Advent home customs

[Pianofish]

This Advent I’d like to do it right and prepare for the birth of Christ by starting a more meditative, low-key tradition with my husband. He is not a believer but for some reason mentioned that maybe we should get an Advent calendar in preparation for Christmas. This is a fantastic idea (especially since he is open to it…) but I wonder if there is something more we can do than just a typical Advent calendar. What are some customs or traditions of your homes as you prepare for Christmas? Are there stories that you read? Are there certain things you practice on the Sundays of Advent other than going to mass? (My husband doesn’t attend mass with me) I’d love to hear what other families do since my family didn’t do much in keeping with the true meaning of Advent while I was growing up. I look forward to reading your responses!

 

[mommy_k]

There are so many feasts during advent–here are some days to get you started.

Christmas Novena which begins during advent.

An advent wreath for your table and light a candle every sunday with a prayer.

jesse tree-and put an ornament a day or all at once.
This tree fortells the birth of Christ from creation.

St. Barbara-for this Saint-you can get twigs with buds and put them out in a vase. Typically cherry twigs-but you can use any to celebrate this Saint.

Immaculate Conception-the color blue for this Holy day–Mass and Rosary.

St. Nicolas day-coins in shoes

St.Lucy day-lights–

Our Lady of Guadalupe-roses–and you can pray a rosary.

You can have your Nattivity set blessed by a priest-St. Francis was the saint that introduced this custom of Nativity set.

You can have all the symbols of the advent season around your house to remind you of all these special days. I think I got them all here but may have missed one or two.

After the special days-you can use the symbols of these days and incorporate them into your Christmas tree or decorations. (St. Barbabra twigs can go behind Nativity set and so on).

 

[Gertabelle]

MommyK has some wonderful ideas.

You’ll have to assess your husband’s openness to you creating traditions according to your faith.

We always have an advent wreath on the kitchen table. It’s basically a plain green wreath decorated with a purple ribbon and then the four candles – purple, purple, pink, purple. We light the appropriate number and colors each night at dinner. The wreath can be as small or large as you like and are comfortable with.

If you and your husband are open to it, hold off on the Christmas decorations until a day or two before Christmas.

If you decide to put up a Christmas tree earlier, however (we are this year for family reasons), divide up your ornaments and place a few on each day of advent. As you get nearer to Christmas, add the nicest or most treasured ornaments.

The feast of St Nicholas (Dec 6) is ripe with traditions and great fun even for non-Christians. Chocolate coins. Oranges. Ginger cookies. You can leave little treats in your husband’s shoes – if you have dogs, put the shoes in a place the dogs can’t get to and explain the tradition and connection to the modern day Santa Claus. Of course, you’ll need to do a little research to learn more about St Nicholas and these traditions so it has more meaning for the both of you.

When I was in college, my friends and I made bags of treats and tried to anonymously leave them on people’s doorsteps in the wee hours of the morning. It is also a good day for making charitable donations or doing works of service.

Whatever you decide, talk with your husband about it and invite him to participate in some of the activities.

Oh, and if you live in an area with a large Hispanic population, look for a special mass EARLY in the morning on Dec 12 (Our Lady of Guadalupe). Our parish has mass at 5:30 am with the Mariachis playing the music, and a huge Mexican feast for breakfast afterwards – yummmmmm

 

[pianistclare]

Pray the O Antiphons while listening to very sift music, candles lit.
Then go for a walk together. When you return home, simply enjoy each other’s company and give thanks fro your blessings. Remember your love and make your hearts a welcome cradle for the coming of the Child Jesus.
God bless you.

 

[tawny]

There is the Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree & Advent Calendar. Also, the praying & meditation of the O Antiphons & the Advent Novena which begins from the feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas.

 

[Padres1969]

We do a couple of things at my house. First advent calendar comes out every year. My wife is a-religious, but she’s very fond of her advent calendar and it is usually the first sign of the season around our house. I also have an advent wreath/candle set I bring out every year and light at least once a week on the Sundays of Advent while saying a prayer. Third I’m a vintage light collector (pre-LED) so I always start the season by putting our Christmas lights out and decorating the outside of the house and putting candles in the windows.

 

[The_Apostolate]

All I want too said is that I prepare myself for the coming of Jesus,my wife has n,t going too Christmas Mass for many years, every Christmas I go bye my self, tears down my eyes because I love Christmas day,and singing Christmas song,s at Mass.We put the tree up,and listen too Christmas song,s but that all.Our son,s are older now,so they do their own think.

 

[Maddie26]

Some monastic traditions.
Christmas prose, sung after Vespers and before supper on Christmas eve. There is an example of it here:
catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/ChristmasProclamation.htm

During Advent no bells were rung, using a rattle instead. No organ (or, indeed, any) music. Sombre decorations in the chapel. The season is a little Lent, with fasting three times a week, recreation only held five times a week for 40 mins etc.

The 7 days leading up to Christmas are called the Golden Nights and have very beautiful prayers including the O Antiphons which were sung to very solemn, ancient music.
In Recreation we would make candle lanterns from cardboard boxes and cellophane to mimic stained glass.

At Midnight Mass we would play music again, ring the bells and after Mass we would go back to the Refectory without speaking because it was still the Grand Silence. Then we would find the Refectorian had put our candle lanterns by each place and we had a feast, serving ourselves from a side table instead of receiving food from “servants” (we each took turns being a servant at table).

Christmas itself was not one day but eight, an Octave, like Easter, each day as solemn as the last. Then Christmastide went on for a further 40 days until Feb 2nd.