I read somewhere that St. Francis of Assisi created the first crèche in Italy, in the hope of getting people refocused on Christ at Christmas. We’re keeping up this tradition at my house, with the Nativity set my in-laws passed on to us. My daughters set out the carved wooden figurines last week. I didn’t even have to help them this year, they just knew that baby Jesus goes in the middle, with the others gathered around and gazing upon Him. When the girls finished setting up the scene, they stood around gazing upon Jesus too. Thank God for St. Francis and for this great tradition!
Did you know that mince pies were traditionally baked in England in the shape of a manger, to hold the Christ child until dinnertime? I just had to consult the Web about this one. According to Wikipedia, the Puritans banned the tradition in the American colonies, calling the pies ‘crusted idols’. They’re certainly banned from this American household, just from the standpoint of keeping the meat and the pie in separate courses!
I love lit Christmas trees, window candles and everything luminous at Christmas! If you drive around town at night I think you’ll note that a lot of other people love this tradition too. The outside world is dark and dreary in winter. It’s so cheering to brighten things up with lights in honor of the Light of the World!
My favorite tradition is lighting the Advent candles on our family wreath. The light at the dinner table and our anticipation grow together week by week. Our Advent wreath has the Jesse Tree symbols engraved on it. This year we’re reading the stories that go with the symbols, and it feels as if we’re waiting, as if, along with countless other saints from days gone by – Abraham and Moses, Isaiah and Elijah – we’re all waiting expectantly for the promised One, The Savior, to be born.
One of the symbols on our wreath is a dove descending, and points us to John the Baptist. His story seems out of place with the rest of Christmas, doesn’t it? Granted, we know from Luke’s gospel that when infant John heard Mary’s voice, he “leaped for joy” inside of Elizabeth’s womb (1:44). Still, I can’t shake the feeling that the adult John belongs to Lent, not to Advent. His bleak desert surroundings don’t mesh with my sparkling, festive ones. His harsh call to repentance is in stark contrast to my growing desire to rejoice.
Could John serve not just to prepare the way but also to stand guard over Advent? Are my comfort-bringing, spirit-lifting traditions still just ways of rejoicing or have they become my reason for rejoicing? Keep it straight, John warns. The time is here to Repent! …and then rejoice in Christ – The Word made flesh, God’s precious little bundle and His once and for all gift of mercy given to a sinful world.
Oh Jesus, please always be found right at the center of my celebrations, and I pray that this Advent and Christmas I will be found standing around and gazing upon you!
