The Christmas kickoff
Weekend events
IU vs KY 79 to 53 * * * * *
Chronicles of Narnia * * * * *
Since Christmas is under attack by the secular interests and political correctness of many, I am going to blog on some historical information about Christmas and the Season over the next few days.
Some bloggers I am sure will say Christmas is not under attack, but that is marginalizing what is occurring. If the systematic attempt to eliminate a non-Christian tradition were occurring, there would be no end to the media hype and protests. There are numerous ACLU attacks that I will highlight later in the week, but first we'll start with some history.
Bishop Perpetuus of Tours in 490 was the first official from the church to institute activities outside the cultural norm to celebrate the Christmas season. He advocated a special fast on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from November 11 to December 24 which was referred to as Martinmas. This activity was similar to the Lent fast used for remembrance of Jesus before the Easter Celebration. This new activity spread slowly from France, Spain, and Germany but when it reached Rome about 100 years later, it took a very different direction.
Rome initially found it difficult to recognize the birth of Christ the same way they viewed his death, so they celebrated rather than fasting. But by the 11th century, they too remembered the Advent season by fasting, limiting recreation, having no marital relations and no weddings.
Somewhere during all of this the Advent celebration has started on many different dates and currently can last anywhere from 22 to 28 days but usually Advent Calendars start with Dec. 1.
Catholics and orthodox churches still use Advent in routine celebrations during the season, but other Christians may or may not utilize the Advent terminology or customs associated for their recognition of the Christmas Season. Today, we see the Christmas Season routinely starting after Thanksgiving for economic reasons, but most churches still begin celebrating the Season on or after Dec. 1.
In the Orthodox Church, Advent still includes fasting, and in most places it lasts from November 15 to December 24. The Armenian Orthodox church members fast for three of the seven weeks between November 15 (St. Philip's Day) and January 6 (Epiphany).
In Syria, Lebanon, and parts of France and Germany, December 4 (St. Barbara's Day) signals the beginning of the Christmas season.
In Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, and parts of Germany, St., Nicholas's Day, December 6, inaugurates the Christmas festivities.
Swedes wait until St. Lucy's Day, December 13, to commence Christmas observances.
Each of these countries utilizes a historical person, story or custom to kick off the Christmas Season. The celebrations look and feel different based on cultural differences, but they all recognize and celebrate the same historical event; the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
IU vs KY 79 to 53 * * * * *
Chronicles of Narnia * * * * *
Since Christmas is under attack by the secular interests and political correctness of many, I am going to blog on some historical information about Christmas and the Season over the next few days.
Some bloggers I am sure will say Christmas is not under attack, but that is marginalizing what is occurring. If the systematic attempt to eliminate a non-Christian tradition were occurring, there would be no end to the media hype and protests. There are numerous ACLU attacks that I will highlight later in the week, but first we'll start with some history.
Bishop Perpetuus of Tours in 490 was the first official from the church to institute activities outside the cultural norm to celebrate the Christmas season. He advocated a special fast on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from November 11 to December 24 which was referred to as Martinmas. This activity was similar to the Lent fast used for remembrance of Jesus before the Easter Celebration. This new activity spread slowly from France, Spain, and Germany but when it reached Rome about 100 years later, it took a very different direction.
Rome initially found it difficult to recognize the birth of Christ the same way they viewed his death, so they celebrated rather than fasting. But by the 11th century, they too remembered the Advent season by fasting, limiting recreation, having no marital relations and no weddings.
Somewhere during all of this the Advent celebration has started on many different dates and currently can last anywhere from 22 to 28 days but usually Advent Calendars start with Dec. 1.
Catholics and orthodox churches still use Advent in routine celebrations during the season, but other Christians may or may not utilize the Advent terminology or customs associated for their recognition of the Christmas Season. Today, we see the Christmas Season routinely starting after Thanksgiving for economic reasons, but most churches still begin celebrating the Season on or after Dec. 1.
In the Orthodox Church, Advent still includes fasting, and in most places it lasts from November 15 to December 24. The Armenian Orthodox church members fast for three of the seven weeks between November 15 (St. Philip's Day) and January 6 (Epiphany).
In Syria, Lebanon, and parts of France and Germany, December 4 (St. Barbara's Day) signals the beginning of the Christmas season.
In Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, and parts of Germany, St., Nicholas's Day, December 6, inaugurates the Christmas festivities.
Swedes wait until St. Lucy's Day, December 13, to commence Christmas observances.
Each of these countries utilizes a historical person, story or custom to kick off the Christmas Season. The celebrations look and feel different based on cultural differences, but they all recognize and celebrate the same historical event; the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
posted by Anonymous at 5:50 PM
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