By Jacqueline Kelly –
In Eastern Orthodox Churches, believers participate in a Nativity Fast that begins on November 15 and ends on December 24. In this fast, they abstain from meat, dairy, fish, wine and oil. They hope the fast will help them to better fix their eyes on God and His Kingdom.
Also read: Advent Season: A Better Understanding of Symbols, Customs and Traditions
In much of the Spanish-people world, a custom called “Posadus” is practiced. “Posadus” means “Shelter” or “Lodging” and it is done from December 16-24. A group of people re-enact Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They plan a route and travel from house to house, asking for lodging. Each home plays the role of “innkeeper” and refuses to host them. At the last house, everyone is invited inside for prayers and refreshments.
The Jesse tree involves homemade ornaments that are hung on a small tree. The ornaments represent an Old Testament prophecy about Jesus or they may represent ancient ancestors in the lineage of Jesus. Various books are available to use along with the Jesse ornaments. The name Jesse is taken from Isaiah 11:1 in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of King David. It is an age old way of getting to know Jesus. Jesse tree is a Christmas Advent Calendar. The Jesse tree focuses on tracing the story line of God’s family from Creation to Cross.
Santa Lucia [St. Lucy] is done on the morning of December 13. The oldest daughter in the house dresses in a white robe with a red sash, and she wears a wreath with lighted candles on her head. She carries a breakfast of coffee, ginger-bread, cookies and saffron buns to her parent’s bedroom. The younger daughters follow the eldest, carrying a single candle. The brothers called “star boys” wear tall, pointed hats.
In China, Christians light their homes with decorative paper lanterns. Some also decorate a “Tree of Light” with paper chains or flowers.
Placing lit candles in the windows arises from the British persecution against the Catholic Church in Ireland, especially under Elizabeth I and Oliver Cromwell. The British rulers were Protestant and the Irish were Catholic. In order, to subjugate the Irish, the British had to crush their religion, and that meant crushing the Catholic Church.
During Christmas, every faithful Irish Catholic family hoped to have a priest visit their home so that they could receive the sacraments and in return offer him hospitality. So, they would leave their doors unlocked and place candles in the windows to signal a priest that he was welcome and would be safe. Sometimes, a single candle would appear in several windows, or three candles in one window, one each representing Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The British persecutors became suspicious and asked the purpose of this action. The faithful Irish Catholics responded, “Our doors are unlocked and candles burn in our windows at Christmas, so that our Blessed Mother Mary, St. Joseph and Baby Jesus, looking for a place to lodge, will find their way to our homes and be welcomed with open hearts. The British Protestants were not convinced and considered it an act of superstition.
As we wait for the Saviour to come May the Holy and Blessed occasion of Advent Bring peace, joy and warmth in your Heart and Home and the Spirit of Christ be with you in all that you do.