Many years ago, we started celebrating our family Christmas on January 7.
But that doesn't meant we don't celebrate Christmas on December 25.
When I was first married in 1981, my in-laws gathered on December 24 and my side of the family gathered on December 25.
As my family grew, I wanted Christmas traditions that were ours - and wouldn't interfere with THEIR in-laws traditions when the time came.
We also had a few friends who celebrated Christmas on January 7. And that's how we birthed the idea.
However, that doesn't mean we celebrate two (or more) Christmases. We celebrate one Christmas, with multiple celebrations.
We're Eastern Orthodox Christians, which means our Advent begins November 15. So that gives us an extra two weeks to thoroughly prepare ourselves to celebrate Jesus' birth (and we still never feel ready).
We honor Christmas Eve is December 24, like most everyone else does.
Christmas Day is December 25, which begins the Christmas season.
We honor all twelve days of Christmas and celebrate the Magi on January 6.
We conclude the festivities with our family Christmas on January 7.
However, the Christmas season continues until Candlemas or the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2, which is when we typically start putting away Christmas decorations.
A short time later, we celebrate creativity, generosity, and laugher with Calkins Day on February 12, and then we celebrate love with Valentine's Day on February 14.
By now, we might have started (or are close to starting) the pre-Lenten period - and then we move into Lent.
After Lent comes Easter.
And look at that, winter is gone and spring has arrived!
The liturgical year, of course, continues, with two more minor fasting/abstinence periods, days of rejoicing, and days of solemnity.
The best part about living life with the liturgical year is that living that life is not dependent on "things" going well for us.
Whether we're struggling or smooth sailing, stumbling or running the race to its fullest, we're still enveloped in that mystery that is God manifested in our lives.
It's an incredibly satisfying way to live.
Happy Monday!
No comments:
Post a Comment