The Pope lighting Christmas Tree during Advent

[myway22883]

Last year, my Bishop wrote this letter on the season of Advent. He notes the nature of Advent as being “preparation”, and encourages advent wreaths and Jesse trees in place of a decorated Christmas tree (until Christmas Day).

dioslc.org/images/bishop/Waiting%20in%20Joyful%20Hope!.pdf

On the other hand, I just read this article about His Holiness lighting a Christmas tree in Grubbio, Italy:

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-will-use-ipad-to-light-up-worlds-largest-christmas-tree/

With all humbleness, the Holy Father’s action confuses men. I thought we were supposed to journey through Advent with prayer, simplicity, and contemplation? Following our Bishop, we do the Jesse tree and don’t decorate our Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. Does anyone else feel confused?

 

[Marie5890]

Last year, my Bishop wrote this letter on the season of Advent. He notes the nature of Advent as being “preparation”, and encourages advent wreaths and Jesse trees in place of a decorated Christmas tree (until Christmas Day).

dioslc.org/images/bishop/Waiting%20in%20Joyful%20Hope!.pdf

On the other hand, I just read this article about His Holiness lighting a Christmas tree in Grubbio, Italy:

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-will-use-ipad-to-light-up-worlds-largest-christmas-tree/

With all humbleness, the Holy Father’s action confuses men. I thought we were supposed to journey through Advent with prayer, simplicity, and contemplation? Following our Bishop, we do the Jesse tree and don’t decorate our Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. Does anyone else feel confused?

No, not at all.
Things like Jesse trees or Advent wreaths or even Christmas trees are a matter of culture and (small “t”) traditions.

None of those things are liturgical, therefore there is nothing wrong in the Holy Father doing this.

I expect, his being Bavarian, there are even local customs that he grew up with that would be different from ours.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

No, not at all.
Things like Jesse trees or Advent wreaths or even Christmas trees are a matter of culture and (small “t”) traditions.

None of those things are liturgical, therefore there is nothing wrong in the Holy Father doing this.

I expect, his being Bavarian, there are even local customs that he grew up with that would be different from ours.

I agree! Especially being 1/2 Bavarian myself I can attest that they are truely the chosen people/ Just ask any German! (lol).

 

[lil_flower_luv]

Things like Jesse trees or Advent wreaths or even Christmas trees are a matter of culture and (small “t”) traditions.

None of those things are liturgical, therefore there is nothing wrong in the Holy Father doing this.

Well said.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

I agree! Especially being 1/2 Bavarian myself I can attest that they are truely the chosen people/ Just ask any German! (lol).

Indeed (I’m 1/4 Bavarian, and my family gets some imported Nürnberger Lebkuchen every Christmas).

 

[Phemie]

I agree! Especially being 1/2 Bavarian myself I can attest that they are truely the chosen people/ Just ask any German! (lol).

As one once tried to teach our Mess, “There are only two kinds of German: Bavarians and not-Bavarians.”

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Last year, my Bishop wrote this letter on the season of Advent. He notes the nature of Advent as being “preparation”, and encourages advent wreaths and Jesse trees in place of a decorated Christmas tree (until Christmas Day).

dioslc.org/images/bishop/Waiting%20in%20Joyful%20Hope!.pdf

On the other hand, I just read this article about His Holiness lighting a Christmas tree in Grubbio, Italy:

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-will-use-ipad-to-light-up-worlds-largest-christmas-tree/

With all humbleness, the Holy Father’s action confuses men. I thought we were supposed to journey through Advent with prayer, simplicity, and contemplation? Following our Bishop, we do the Jesse tree and don’t decorate our Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. Does anyone else feel confused?

Well, I imagine the tree would have been lit on that date anyway, and it’s nice they decided to honor the Pope by asking him to press the button. These nice little stories are good press for both the city and the Papacy. Hopefully they will at least keep the tree lit until Epiphany if not later. I believe Candlemas (February 2) was once the cultural date to have all the Christmas decorations taken down by.

Definitely I would still go with your own bishop’s advice, but realize it’s a prudential decision on how best to observe Christmas in his diocese, not some kind of universal unalterable norm. Advent is indeed a time for preparing for Christmas (and for the Second Coming) not the celebration of Christmas, but some people claim decorating is a part of their preparation. And anyway we do need to recognize that the Christmas season really has shifted in secular culture from starting December 25 to ending on that date or at New Years at the latest, and it may be futile and even counterproductive for the Church to try to reverse that change by scolding people for jumping the season.

One thought that does occur to me, that would be a good thing in itself and may also have the effect of bringing the observed season back in line a bit with the liturgical calendar, would be to encourage greater observance of Epiphany, perhaps including by bringing it back to its original date as a Holy Day of Obligation, especially for us English speakers with our enduring cultural memory of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” If any of you know any bishops feel free to pass on the suggestion.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

Last year, my Bishop wrote this letter on the season of Advent. He notes the nature of Advent as being “preparation”, and encourages advent wreaths and Jesse trees in place of a decorated Christmas tree (until Christmas Day).

dioslc.org/images/bishop/Waiting%20in%20Joyful%20Hope!.pdf

On the other hand, I just read this article about His Holiness lighting a Christmas tree in Grubbio, Italy:

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-will-use-ipad-to-light-up-worlds-largest-christmas-tree/

With all humbleness, the Holy Father’s action confuses men. I thought we were supposed to journey through Advent with prayer, simplicity, and contemplation? Following our Bishop, we do the Jesse tree and don’t decorate our Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. Does anyone else feel confused?

Well, I’m surprised that the pope doesn’t do what you do, because I always thought that decorating the Christmas tree was a Bavarian tradition. Not a German tradition, cause my (mom’s) family is German (I’d like to say West Prussia, and no, I’m NOT Polish ), and we decorate it early.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Well, I’m surprised that the pope doesn’t do what you do, because I always thought that decorating the Christmas tree was a Bavarian tradition. Not a German tradition, cause my (mom’s) family is German (I’d like to say West Prussia, and no, I’m NOT Polish ), and we decorate it early.

I researched this issue several years ago, and what I came up with then is that Christmas trees started in the Rhine valley (in western Germany; Bavaria of course is southeastern Germany).

That said, my mother’s father was Bavarian and according to her they always bought and decorated the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

I assume someone in Gubbio set the date for the lighting, and I doubt they took the Pope’s native Bavarian customs into account.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

I researched this issue several years ago, and what I came up with then is that Christmas trees started in the Rhine valley (in western Germany; Bavaria of course is southeastern Germany).

That said, my mother’s father was Bavarian and according to her they always bought and decorated the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

I assume someone in Gubbio set the date for the lighting, and I doubt they took the Pope’s native Bavarian customs into account.

Oops, I meant to say decorating the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve was a Bavarian tradition. I think you’re right about where Christmas trees started.