Advent and Christmas

[dreamflower]

I mentioned that I'm on the Advent Committee for my church this year, and I am working on a devotional booklet for the season. I have yet to write my own entry for the booklet--and I am curious about how other folks get themselves into the proper spirit for the holiday.

[Poll #1478150]

For those who are curious about my own ways of getting in the Christmas mood, I do most of the things I mentioned in the poll. One thing I do every year, for the last 39 years is read How Far to Bethlehem? by Norah Lofts. It really makes me think about the reason behind Christmas, and what it might be like to have lived back then and be caught up in those amazing events.

Comments

[nixnivis.livejournal.com]

Here in Sweden, we also have a seven- or five-armed Advent candlestick (not a menorah, but inspired by it) in our windows, or an Advent star. Or both. :-) For me, it's the candlesticks that make me feel all Christmas-y. Without them, it just isn't Christmas!

[aranellaurelote.livejournal.com]

I suppose I shouldn't celebrate Christmas... but maybe that's what's wrong with Atheism - we'd all be much happier if we could have a few celebrations *hehe*

but honestly... Every year my brother's scouts take hampers round to elderly people who might not get many visitors at Christmas and sing carols to them - I been going round with them for several years now and I love it!

and then I have the 100,000,000 concerts with choir and orchestra (well, it feels like that by the end!)

and Christmas shopping! gosh, I'm excited already! please make it Christmas soon!

One thing I don't think I'll miss now I've left school are nativity plays... I was one of the 3 kings twice... that's about it really... my brother was the shiniest star (I was so jealous!)

*hugs*

[aspenjules.livejournal.com]

Baking and decorating play a role, as well as reading some Christmas stories (My mom always buys the Christmas books that favorite authors like Debbie Macomber and others write) although since I will read Christmastime based stories any time of the year that isn't totally helpful, LOL.

For me the biggest part is that it's FINALLY cool/cold here, and I listen to Christmas music. That's when it really feels like the season to me.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

With Kevin I do the advent calendar. He gets to open a window and we both look forward to it, hubby did sit down with him as well last year (he's raised Roman Catholic) and he admitted that this is one of the things we look forward too. :D I also help out at his pre-school to decorate the classrooms and such. For the rest, we celebrate it in secular fashion, enjoying it with the kids. Every day I will bake something with my eldest, so those are our traditions, kind of.

[lily-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

I used to do a lot more - baking (the typical Christmas bakery), going to Christmas markets or walk through town simply to see the Christmas light (which are a lot less obstrusive in Austria than they are in "we're blue, red, green, pink, orange, white, COLOURFUL" Aberdeen... in Austria they're just white 90 % of the time), eating the cookies you baked, and I usually take out my fragrance lamp and fill it with a nice wintery smell... like cinnamon ... which again brings me to the bakery :p

Alas, being a busy student with November and December being EXTREMLY busy, I have not managed to get into a Christmas mood at all the past 2 years. I regularly feel that Christmas Eve is here but I'm not ready for it.

[fantasy-fan.livejournal.com]

A number of years ago, when the kiddies were little, I made a Jesse tree booklet. Every day was a reading and a symbol. The kids are too old now to color and cut out, but I still have the booklet of bible readings to go through. Our parish also has the "Little Blue Books," which are a series of advent devotionals.

I really try to experience Advent, and not rush the Christmas season. So I don't do heavy preparations until the last week before. Then there are several traditions we follow.

The first decoration to go up is the Nativity set. We buy the tree as a family outing to a cut-your-own farm, and always have a family dinner at a little restaurant afterwards. On the way home, we sing Christmas carols. And since my family are all singers in choirs, we do lovely harmonies. The tree ususally doesn't get put up and decorated until just a day or two before Christmas. The kids, even though they're adults now, very carefully keep track of whose turn it is to put the star on that year.

We are very involved in church services. The three kids are in choir, so they sing for the Christmas vigil mass, ss well as masses on Christmas day. We're also in the handbell choir at church. And since the liturgical Christmas season actually lasts several weeks (until Baptism of the Lord), we continue to celebrate with songs and decorations until then.

To my family, Christmas is very much a religious holiday. We seriously downplay the shopping and presents aspect of it.

[shirebound]

Growing up in a Jewish household I can't really say that I celebrate Christmas, but I love all the greetings and fics on LJ around that time... I love sending and receiving holiday cards... the malls are so festive, and the music so lovely (I spent years in school choirs learning alto harmony to Christmas songs)... and any reminders about peace on earth and goodwill toward men/hobbits warms my heart.

[gamgeefest.livejournal.com]

Also meant to click "Other" - I decorate, put up the tree and wreath, etc. There aren't many Xmas movies I watch, but I do like to watch "A Christmas Story" and "Elf". :D

[frodobaggins252.livejournal.com]

I perform in a local Dickens Christmas festival and I wear my silly Christmas hat with plush pointy ears when I go Christmas shopping to cheer people up while they're waiting in long lines. People either look at me and get a smile from the hat, or they poke their companions and say "Look at that stupid woman in that stupid hat" and they get a laugh and smile, which is the whole point of wearing that hat.

[telperion1.livejournal.com]

Does the Bible count as a "special book"? :-) Seriously, I read the nativity story, the readings I grew up hearing in church, and it helps.

I also have a tradition of listening to Jesus Christ Superstar strk (weird, I know, but it reminds me to think outside the box about all things religion), and I look forward to Juno's advent calendar.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Ditto here. I need my seven-armed candlestick! And e star in the window. And my four-armed Advent candle wreath/holder/thing.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

I have been thinking about getting one of those Advent books with a little text for each of the 24 days of Advent, preparing me for Christmas. I don't go to church during chrismtas since no one in my family does (only one aunt if it fits her time table), but I love going during Advent. The preparation, both in the secular and religious meaning of the word and also the light service we usually have to start of Advent puts me right in the mood. When Christmas comes I'm all but through with it, lol. I like Advent more moodwise. :) Contemplation, preparation. Winter in the air, the almost complete dark all day through, lots of candles... :)

[x19narya90x.livejournal.com]

I always watch the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol, and (of course) It's A Wonderful Life.