Celebrating Christmas during Advent

[Red_Paladin]

I’m having a slight problem understanding the meaning and reason for the season of Advent. From what I know, its a time for prayer, preparation and fasting, in joyful anticipation of the birth of Christ.
But there’s a strange saying, here in India (maybe it occurs elsewhere as well), it goes ‘Christmas is everyday.’ Does this saying portray true Catholic spirituality, and if not, why not.
Also, our vicar has taken a strange step, he proposes that from the 16th till the 25th we all engage in merry festivities, with cultural programs, singing of carols and exchange of sweets etc. I was very distressed when he spoke of it, with no mention of confession and fasting at all, and I wanted to question him on the subject, but having no firm foundation for my thoughts, I let it go.
I would like to know, if such ‘festivities’ are in harmony with what the Church teaches about the season of Advent. Some quotations from Church authorities would be splendid

 

[The_Reginator]

Ouch!

I have a **big **problem with that. The Advent season is imperative in preparing ourselves for the celebration of Christmas, which begins on December 25. Does your pastor have any plans of ways your parish will celebrate between December 25 and January 6???

At this late hour I have no documents handy to point you to, but you might find something here: Celebrate Advent . . . With a Fast!

God be with you friend,

• Reg.

 

[Carolus_Martell]

…‘From what I know, its a time for prayer, preparation and fasting, in joyful anticipation of the birth of Christ’…

You got it right.

Celebrate Advent correctly with the advent wreath/candles and daily family prayers. This devotion helps the faithful to focus on the holy and diminish the vulgar, spiritually distracting, obscene commercialism and legal goat screw** Advent**, aka ‘the pre-holiday’ season has become here in the States.

 

[centurionguard]

…‘From what I know, its a time for prayer, preparation and fasting, in joyful anticipation of the birth of Christ’…

You got it right.

Celebrate Advent correctly with the advent wreath/candles and daily family prayers. This devotion helps the faithful to focus on the holy and diminish the vulgar, spiritually distracting, obscene commercialism and legal goat screw** Advent**, aka ‘the pre-holiday’ season has become here in the States.

Not just the United States; the infection of commercialism and secularism used to rob the religious celebration of the Solemnity of Christmas, Christ’s Mass is prevalent everywhere.
Our preparation and celebration must be centered on the ineffable profound Mystery of the Incarnation. It makes the difficulties and sufferings of life an easier yoke to carry centering our focus on meditation, prayer and the genuine giving of ourselves from the heart because Jesus (“IS”) the Reason for the season…

 

[TeenageConvert]

Well in Latin America they start the pasadas December 16. They’re parties, and thy include plays portraying the annunciation, the visitation, the journey to Bethlehem, and birth of Christ. There are 9, one for each month of pregnancy. Each party is progressively more festive than the preceding one. The most festive pasada follows midnight Mass. They also say a novena during these 9 days.