Posted on 12/28/2012 4:39:24 AM PST by NYer
The calendar reads December 27th. Secular society has us fully ensconced in “after-Christmas” sales and is already prepared to move us along to Valentine’s Day. And yet we Catholics know that in terms of the liturgical season of Christmas, we’re just getting started.
Some of you may fall prey to the “after Christmas blues” that seem to hit in these days after the big holiday. We’ve spent so much time planning, preparing, cooking and making the past week special for our loved ones that when it finally comes, and then goes by so quickly, we may be left feeling exhausted and depressed. If you find yourself in this semi-sad mode, try a few of these simple suggestions to rekindle the Christmas spirit in your heart:
Do you find this “after-Christmas” period difficult or emotional, or are you simply just “getting into the groove” of the holidays? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
In my childhood, the christmas tree was put up on Christmas Eve. We began celebrating on Christmas day and continued until Epiphany. Yesterday I was surprised to learn that a friend had already taken down her tree and removed all vestiges of Christmas. The initial surprise was tempered by the recognition that she is a secularist, who was raised in a home where no faith was practiced.
In my childhood, the christmas tree was put up on Christmas Eve. We began celebrating on Christmas day and continued until Epiphany. Yesterday I was surprised to learn that a friend had already taken down her tree and removed all vestiges of Christmas. The initial surprise was tempered by the recognition that she is a secularist, who was raised in a home where no faith was practiced.
Yes, by by the Christian calendar, Christmas season begins on Christmas. However, according to the secular world, the Christmas Selling Season begins about Labor Day so most people are sick of it by December.
After Christmas, the secularists celebrate New Years Drunken Party Time which runs until after the Super Bowl, which is getting later and later. After Valentines Day Selling Season comes Mardi Gras/St. Patricks Day Drunken Season.
In my childhood home, the Christmas tree and all of its glorious decorations were also not put up until we children were in bed on Christmas Eve. Ditto for the train garden, which became more and more elaborate over the years.
Turning 12 signaled my time to be allowed to stay up on Christmas Eve and help decorate the tree. I was so excited to be able to participate in such a grown-up activity with my parents and older siblings. What a letdown it was to get up the next morning and see the tree that I had already seen before going to bed.
We, too, celebrated Christmas through Epiphany.
When my children were small, I initially did the tree the same was, but, as they got older, we put the tree up a little before Christmas, and they helped. They are all adults now, and some have their own children.
I have maintained the practice of waiting until Epiphany to take everything down. It’s always a little sad.
My children always thought we were a little crazy to keep our Christmas tree up until the Epiphany. Until it was all explained to them!
“Five things to do ...,” “Twelve activities for the 12 days of Christmas ...,” “Fifteen must-do devotions ...”
“They bind up burdens hard to bear and lay them on other men’s shoulders, but they will not lift one finger to move them.”
My non-Catholic husband still thinks I am strange to wait until Epiphany to take everything down.
In my neighborhood, I am always puzzled when I see how early people put up their trees. This year, I was really astounded to see a Christmas tree in someone’s window before Thanksgiving.
There's always something fun to do! Just remember 95% of these devotions are optional, not mandatory. If it works for you, have at it - if not, don't worry about it.
I do love chalking the door and reciting the Epiphany prayers. We also move the Three Kings over to the creche from the opposite book case, a little bit every day. They finally arrive on Epiphany.
These are suggestions, not commandments.
I don't obsess over them, any more than I obsess over the multiplicitous suggestions in Martha Stewart Living (she doesn't do all of them either, she has a staff).
Nobody has time to do ALL the stuff people suggest, not even a convent full of nuns with all the time in eternity on their hands.
So do what you like, what speaks to you, and leave the rest. That's the difference between us and the Pharisees who sat in the seat of Moses.
We put the Christmas tree up around Veteran’s Day but I like to have it down before the New Year. However, we keep a fruit cake in the freezer for July and have been known to break out the Christmas music in the summer.
I had never heard of the chalking. How lovely. I have now included it in my Advent/Christmas folder. Thank you.
1. Get the priest to bless you some chalk. Any color will do, I like red because it's festive.
2. Get some holy water from the stoup, Epiphany water if your parish specially blesses it.
3. Follow the directions here.
4. Peace be to this house!
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