Christmas is approaching! But most of the time, I can´t tell.
I ask myself, "How do I usually know that Christmas is coming?"
Well, there is the snow falling in beautiful, fluffy flakes. I definitely missed that cue if it ever happened out here. I am getting used to sweating at all times, seeking out shade and breezes and fans automatically. The pattern of getting up early, staying up late, and sleeping the midday away makes more sense now than ever.
Then there is the cue of cheesy Christmas music on the radio, starting about a month before it should. That definitely didn´t happen here. Radio music is still reggaeton beats and the occasional romantic song from the 90´s or before. Christmas music here means "We wish you a merry Christmas." You think I´m kidding, but I am not.
There are the decorations of pine and red ribbon and glass ornaments. Nope, not here. On the rare occasions that I see them, it´s in big stores that are imitating the West. My favourite thing is the surprisingly popular icicle-style Christmas lights that dangle in strings. I love them in Winnipeg and I love them here.
Family traditions like baking and decorating cookies, setting up the tree, and celebrating at huge gatherings... All of those are obviously not going to happen here. I am on another continent than my family, so fair enough.
More than anything -- even more than the snow and lights that I love -- I miss the way the Church anticipates Christmas back in Canada. Here the concept of Advent is one that requires explaining. The Mennonite churches, at least, don´t do anything unusual. Sundays in December are like every other Sunday. The person preaching picks some passages to be read and preaches on a theme. But in my mind, this is supposed to be the Advent season. I miss lighting candles. I miss progressively decorating. I miss the familiar passages and the atmosphere rife with anticipation. I want to feel like Christmas is coming!!!
To be honest, I fear Christmas will be no big deal at all in the church here. I am happy to be rid of all the consumeristic baggage attached to Christmas in Canada... but not to be rid of Christmas entirely. It makes me really sad to be missing out on the benefit of a church-led Advent season.
It looks like this year, if I want Advent to be meaningful, it will be a do-it-myself event. Anybody got candles?
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11 comments:
We´ve definitly got the Christmas light´s going here, and there is some very annoying Christmas music that plays. But yes, there is no snow falling, no threat of picking icewine and no advent services at church. What can I say it´s Christmas yet it´s not. Let´s experience it, and be even more thankful next Christmas when we get to watch the snow fall get to freeze as we leave church and wait in the car while it warms up. ´
I´m sorry you have such a negative impression of our Advent time here. We, the Mennonite churches in the Chaco do celebrate the Advent. We light candles on Sunday and we mention and preach about it. Of course we don´t get snow, but I think your personal attitude gives you the Christmas you are longing for. You need to see through the heat, through the tacky Christmas decorations and make it special just the way it is here. I hope your eyes will be opened!
Oh, Dorothea, I can definately relate. Some stores here have had Western decorations up since October (no Thanksgiving to forestall them) and it just looks so wrong, so foreign. A number of years ago here in Brazil many congregations, in an effort "to be rid of all the consumeristic baggage attached to Christmas," did away with the celebration almost entirely. Only recently, it seems, are churches easing back into the idea of rejoicing at Jesus' birth during December. Advent is practically unheard-of in Mennonite congregations here, and then seen as something rather for Catholics. However, I was glad to spend yesterday with several girls from church making what they declared biblical Christmas decorations, which consisted of foil letters to post verses fortelling Jesus birth and 3D gold and silver stars to hang in the sanctuary.
Anyway, I'm glad for this chance to experience Christmas with all of the North American cultural trappings removed. As you alluded, Christmas is what we make of it.
Yep. We´re missing it with you. No music, no anticipation it feels like. Craig and I had our own little service yesterday with singing Christmas hymns together. Does your church has an online recording of the services? Maybe you can check it out.
k.mast
May you find your way in this Advent season.
I went to a shopping mall yesterday, which was beautifully decorated with poinsettas (fake) and Christmas lights everywhere, plus big Christmas trees and a manger scene. It made my heart happy.
If Xmas celebrates God incarnate, then the challenging fact of our embodiment includes placed-ness. The contradictions in the Bethlehem story point to this. It turns out that the apparently least fitting place for God to enter earthly history (the back shed), is ultimately the most fitting for the servant-leader Lord. I think it challenges us to reflect not so much on what is missing (a God-worthy inn, birth attendants, &c), but what & how what IS tells the story of Immanuel.
I was going to leave a slightly humorous, tongue-in-cheek comment about the "Feliz Navidad" song, but the last comment up on here threw a wrench in my mental mechanics.
Just know that it would have been funny. Happy Birthday too!
ps. Just too let you know, the word verification to post my comment was "warstabl". I found this amusing in light of posting around the theme of the Prinz of Paz being born in a manager.
Dorothea...am i right to remember you are a Christmas Eve baby?? If so, Happy Birthday! (me, too!)
I like the cheesy Christmas music...
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