Advent is one of my favorite times of year, by liturgical reckoning. It's a little lent--in the Catholic Church, identified by the liturgical color Purple, which we see in both Advent and Lent. Purple was the color of royalty, and Christ was clothed ironically in purple before his crucifixion, so it is evocative of both Christ as King and Christ suffering on the Cross. Advent quite deliberately rhymes with lent, while having it's own distinct beauty and unique features.
I have to be honest though, I don't mark it well. I have long term life plans to add more to my advent routine. The change during Mass is notable, and probably gives me the biggest difference in my season. Advent worship is beautiful. I am not a musician, but during penitential seasons like Lent and Advent, liturgical music shifts into what I think is a minor key--giving us beautiful, poignant, and vaguely sad hymns. O Come O Come Emmanuel is my favorite hymn, and you can't say it's a (purely) celebratory one! Beautiful, but restrained.
Sorry--unintentionally spilled a lot about the season and less about my own personal practices. I just put up my Christmas Tree yesterday--I call it a charlie brown tree, small, plastic, battery powered. But it's mine, and it radiates festivity into my otherwise mundane surroundings.
That's enough from me. Thank you for this beautiful reflection!
Advent is possibly my favorite part of the liturgical year, largely thanks to family traditions on my mom’s side - an Advent wreath, Jesse tree ornaments and stories, a slow trickle of Christmas decorations going up, culminating in the fully decorated tree on Christmas Eve. Now that I have my own little ones, it’s a joy to share these traditions with them as well. 🕯️
Sally, I ordered Pilgrim God and it arrived on my Kindle yesterday. What a deep and lovely collection! ((I plan to add it to my poetry roundup for Advent readings. I have one as well.....))
And yes, this Protestant/Evangelical has been slowly moving into the rhythms of the church year--candles at the ready, getting ready to welcome the light.
Advent is one of my favorite times of year, by liturgical reckoning. It's a little lent--in the Catholic Church, identified by the liturgical color Purple, which we see in both Advent and Lent. Purple was the color of royalty, and Christ was clothed ironically in purple before his crucifixion, so it is evocative of both Christ as King and Christ suffering on the Cross. Advent quite deliberately rhymes with lent, while having it's own distinct beauty and unique features.
I have to be honest though, I don't mark it well. I have long term life plans to add more to my advent routine. The change during Mass is notable, and probably gives me the biggest difference in my season. Advent worship is beautiful. I am not a musician, but during penitential seasons like Lent and Advent, liturgical music shifts into what I think is a minor key--giving us beautiful, poignant, and vaguely sad hymns. O Come O Come Emmanuel is my favorite hymn, and you can't say it's a (purely) celebratory one! Beautiful, but restrained.
Sorry--unintentionally spilled a lot about the season and less about my own personal practices. I just put up my Christmas Tree yesterday--I call it a charlie brown tree, small, plastic, battery powered. But it's mine, and it radiates festivity into my otherwise mundane surroundings.
That's enough from me. Thank you for this beautiful reflection!
I love the minor keys of Advent music!
Advent is possibly my favorite part of the liturgical year, largely thanks to family traditions on my mom’s side - an Advent wreath, Jesse tree ornaments and stories, a slow trickle of Christmas decorations going up, culminating in the fully decorated tree on Christmas Eve. Now that I have my own little ones, it’s a joy to share these traditions with them as well. 🕯️
Sally, I ordered Pilgrim God and it arrived on my Kindle yesterday. What a deep and lovely collection! ((I plan to add it to my poetry roundup for Advent readings. I have one as well.....))
And yes, this Protestant/Evangelical has been slowly moving into the rhythms of the church year--candles at the ready, getting ready to welcome the light.
I will be pulling out my Adventljusstake (Swedish Christmas candelabra) and lighting candles each week ❤️
May you find a way! I am lucky enough to have been gifted mine. My mother and her partner made it.