Christmas is coming!

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sarahq

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Hey everybody! I am currently going through RCIA, and I just wondered-- Christmas is coming, are there any holiday traditions you have? For example do you have a nativity scene in your livingroom/house? Do you do anything for advent? Do you have any favourite Christmas Carols?

Thanks for reading!
God bless.
Sarah
 
We have a nativity scene that we display in the living room–the kind with the hole in the back of the stable that you shine a light through. We also have a live tree and I have a collection of vintage Santas. I like vintage decorations from the 50s-60s era. Right now we only have an Advent Wreath displayed, and for the first time I don’t intend to put out any Christmas decorations until Sunday Dec. 18 when we begin to look to the coming of the Baby Jesus, as opposed to the coming of Jesus at the end of time. Then we are going to leave the tree up until Epiphany.
 
Actually my wife and I are seriously thinking about doing away with the tree (replace it with a nativity scene) and firing Santa Claus (replaced with St. Nicholas). Christmas has become way to focused on Santa Claus bringing toys and putting them under the tree for our tastes.
 
I wish I had a nativity scene! I saw a really nice one in a church gift shop but it was several hundred dollars. Maybe in a couple years, if I’m not in a religious order by then!!

Love to all
God bless
Sarah
 
You asked four questions!

This year for the first time I got large on this decorating thing. Admittedly, some years it was “zero” decor. Maybe I was part Grinch?? Anyway, this week I shopped, constructed, put up and decorated a medium sized tree area, and large garland around a window behind the tree. I have a very small Jesus in a manger with Mary & Joseph figures in one sculpted unit under the tree…about the size of a softball. So, too small. I’m hoping to buy a slightly larger one but tapped for cash already so will go low cost this year, nevertheless do hope to get a bigger one today! I have a question about that at the end of this post.

As for Advent activity.
Well there are prayers for the season in the Office. I pray those. Also, I play Christmas CD music a little. We can make sure we sing loud at mass, I try. Thus far I haven’t been caroling but it’s cool to have it happen to you! Another activity is yacking on the phone, I chat with family a bit more. I usually get invited somewhere for Thanksgiving and Christmas, either with a family from church or with my family (of origin) and try to be both the giver and taker during events like that, i.e. enjoy visits and other people’s cooking but also be of service wherever I’m invited because I have too many memories away from the Church when I was just a leech. I need to ramp up on the charity in general. Enough self-abasement… For a one-of-a-kind activity, a few days preceding the 1st Sunday of Advent we viewed the “Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus” exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). It goes through February and can be viewed during Advent (link at the bottom). Last, I’m participating in a bible study headed by our parish priest over the book of Isaiah because that prophet is read often during Advent/Christmastide.

DIA exhibit information - dia.org/calendar/exhibition.aspx?id=2306

QUESTION: Some compact nativity displays, perhaps with only the Holy Family, incorporate a sizable cross in the arrangement. Who thinks this inclusion of a large cross symbol is an appropriate theme for Advent and Christmas? I’m not looking at it from a technical theological view. I know the manger/Incarnation is one big connected event with the Crucifixion. But at Christmas we focus on well … Christmas. No surprise. So what do you think about a display that incorporates a large cross?
 
sarahq said:
Hey everybody! I am currently going through RCIA, and I just wondered-- Christmas is coming, are there any holiday traditions you have? For example do you have a nativity scene in your livingroom/house? Do you do anything for advent? Do you have any favourite Christmas Carols?

Thanks for reading!
God bless.
Sarah
Click to expand...
We have two Nativities, one outside, one inside. We just bought the outdoor one the year before last. I love both of them

DH and I always go to Mass on Christmas Eve, which I love, considering he isn’t even Catholic.

I love lots of Christmas Carols! O, Holy Night is one of my favorites. Oh, Come Oh, Come Emmanuel and Oh, Come All Ye Faithful are three others I like, but there are many more.
 
Thank you both for responding! 'Sounds like you both keep christmas well. I’m really excited about the season— Christmas carols like ‘O Come All ye Faithful’ have a lot more meaning than they used to!!!
 
I don’t have kids, and won’t be around my kids and grandkids, so my expectations are lowered. I have a small olivewood nativity I bought from the Bethlehem folks who have a sale here every year, and a live “tree” (12" high) from walmart, which will be planted in the yard next to the norfolk island pines from prior years. Lost two in the freeze last winter. It has a sprig of holly stuck in the pot. otherwise, that is about it, oh, a Mexican ceramic bowl filled with glass balls red, gold and green on the kitchen table. done.

door wreath is out of the question with the high winds here. gave up on outdoor lights, wind ripped them out of our hands as we tried to put them up every night for a week. No wonder everyone here leaves them up year round, they must have to weld them to the house.

With advent retreats and programs for every age level, feast for the needy, children’s Christmas party, Parish Christmas party, and parties by various parish organizations, and school Christmas play, I am about Chrismased out by Dec. 31. Tuba Christmas begins the season for me, and this year, a performance of the Messiah, and the kids Nutcracker ballet.
 
Small fake tree this year as the needles wouldn’t be good for crawling babies but will have a proper one back next year.

We have a Nativity scene although it is very small and that wasn’t cheap either.

My carols in the car, the tree and lights went up on the first Sunday of Advent as I look forward to that day and hopefully the children will grow up looking forward to it too.

I was thinking although it would be a few years before it would happen that the children could enjoy would be to have a bonfire, hot drinks and chocolates on Epiphany where we could burn the tree. It might be nice and it costs to recycle the tree.

I always thought the house seemed bare when the tree and decorations came down, do you re-arrange your furniture every year to counter this?
 
sarahq said:
I wish I had a nativity scene! I saw a really nice one in a church gift shop but it was several hundred dollars. Maybe in a couple years, if I’m not in a religious order by then!!

Love to all
God bless
Sarah
Click to expand...
They sell Nativities in all price ranges. Maybe you could find something much cheaper?
 
Thanks everybody for your (name removed by moderator)ut!!!

God bless.
Sarah
 
In Nov I start asking Jesus what he would like for Christmas, well, for his birthday gift. I look for opportunities to do little acts of kindness every day. Today I returned a stray shopping cart to it’s little cart garage so someone could park in that spot. Maybe the lady with the little baby could go ahead of me in line. When I recognize a moment like that, I say a little prayer, like Jesus I love you, happy birthday! I like to remember in scripture the little boy who gave up his loaf and fish to Jesus who in turn fed the 5000. Small things aren’t too little when given to God. At the end of my life Jesus won’t be able to say *I never knew you *since I never missed his birthday and giving him attention and the small gifts of love that add up.

When I grew up my family didn’t go to church. My dad did love to play Mario Lanza Christmas carols that contained religious songs. That was my catechism! Just by listening to the music I knew that Jesus was the Son of God. The reason I write this is to encourage people, when they have company over, to play that kind of music and not so much music that has Frosty the Snow Man, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Baby, etc. I was amazed at meeting a married lady, in her late 20’s, who ‘celebrated Christmas always’, didn’t know that Jesus was the Son of God. I still remember the look on her face when I told her. Her eyeballs were popping out. A year and a half she came into the church at Easter.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Mario Lanza sings O Holy Night on youtube. It still gives me goosebumps. I miss you dad. Till we meet again!
youtube.com/watch?v=lxUkjthYAR4
 
sarahq said:
Hey everybody! I am currently going through RCIA, and I just wondered-- Christmas is coming, are there any holiday traditions you have? For example do you have a nativity scene in your livingroom/house? Do you do anything for advent? Do you have any favourite Christmas Carols?

Thanks for reading!
God bless.
Sarah
Click to expand...
Sarah, welcome to the Catholic Church.

I have an over 30 year old Nativity that my parents gave to my paternal grandparents shortly after they were married. That’s about all I have out this year as i’m going through some rough times and don’t feel like doing anything else.

As a Catholic Revert (been away from the Church, but returned over the Summer), i’ve enjoyed the beauty of Advent and the waiting, hoping, and anticipation that comes with Advent and not getting caught up in Secular world of Christmas.
 
Live tree, lights, nativity…all stuffed into a log cabin on the mountain. It’s like a winter carnival for Jesus’ birthday.
 
Well, you could light an Advent Wreath. We have one, but the candles broke, so we haven’t used it. But Advent Wreaths are very typical.
 
Why Jesus Is Better than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole …
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh …
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year …
JESUS is an ever-present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies …
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited …
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your
heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa …
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap …
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name; all he can say to the little
boy or girl is, “What’s your name?” …
JESUS knew your name before you did. Not only does He know
your name, He also knows your address. He knows your history
and future and He even knows how many hairs are on your
head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly …
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO …
JESUS offers health, help, and hope.

Santa says, “You better not cry” …
JESUS says, “Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys …
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken
homes, and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle, but …
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree …
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

It’s obvious there is really no comparison. We need to
remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ
back in CHRISTmas. Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus >>

Received from DGJPARSONS.
 
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