Advent

[JeanineAnne]

With Advent beginning tomorrow, I was wondering how many will be doing devotions and/or a wreath?

Or

How do you spiritually prepare for Christmas? Do you work on your soul during this time or do you find yourself getting caught up in the whirlwind of the holiday? It is so easy to do that with the ever-growing to-do list. Cookies to bake, shopping to do, gifts to wrap, cards to send, visits to make/schedule, parties to attend, kid's programs to see, cookie walks to attend....the list could go on & on.

If you don't observe or know what Advent is, perhaps you should consider it. Each of the 4 Sundays before Christmas you stop and remember what the season is all about. You can have a wreath and light candles and have all the "right" verses to read, or you can just stop and reflect for a moment on the real reason for the season.

Who on your shopping list really just needs the gift of Jesus this season? Have you packaged that up for them yet? How could you do that? Taking a regular scheduled time for the Lord this month is an awesome way to stay connected to our Saviour. That connection is needed if we are going to be the much needed light for a lost soul this year.

[luvmy4sons]

I would have to say that what we do isn't a whole lot different than any other day. But we usually read aloud a book that is Christmas oriented. I focus more on his birth in devotions, but then I often talk about the gift of God taking on human form throughout the year. What I feel we miss is SERVICE! What can we do by way of service as a family for others. Every year I want to do something MORE! One year we served at the Salvation Army Christmas dinner. But I dont know seems like there should be more service on our parts! You know?

[logosnimby]

We actually do an Advent Jesse Tree. we read a devotional every nite starting in December and ending on christmas day. we have a coresponding ornament that we place on a small tree each time. it is something to help teach the children what christmas is really about.

[ChamomileFriend]

When I was a kid we always had an advent wreath at school and an advent calendar at home - my mom still keeps an advent calendar, but i have to say that i haven't done much on my own or with ds since I have moved out of my parents' house. I think that it is definitely something I would like to start doing again especially as the kids get older - we can do a calendar but the wreath was always my favorite so eventually i would like to do both (that will have to wait until the kids are older bec i would worry about lighting the candles with them). Right now with ds I am focusing on the story of little baby Jesus.

[~Tara~]

I said "Trying"
As this is my first year to do*anything* I have had intentions for a few years now, but this is the first year anything has really come to fruition. We started a Jesse Tree once, but it died out.

So, yeah, trying...really, I am :)

I have our wreath ready. Some verses ready. Hubby I think ready hehe Oh and we're doing a chain link verse dealy, this week's is ready.

I welcome any specifics one can offer. I've been looking at this stuff but I still don't really have much of a 'plan'/order of service so to speak.

The most I have is...
We'll talk about the wreath and all it symbolizes. Have a prayer, light the candle, do our devotion and a song, closing prayer and snuff the candle. Today we will do that before dinner. The rest of the week it will probably be after ??? Due to dh's work schedule. If possible, maybe just before dinner...make it a big dinner 'thing' ?? I don't know..what do *you* do?

I need help here. Really...just tell me..detailed, what do you do?

Oh and I was thinking about during the week, during the day..that's when the kids and I would do the verses chain along with the little 'treats' as mentioned at teachingmom's site. What do you think about that? Kind of 2 Advent things going on at the same time ? The day would be our chain verses, discussion and little treat with symbolization. The evening being our big family time Advent. Is that too much? Confusing?

[Ren]

could some one give me an explanation as to jesse advent, and the wreath tradition- never heard of them. We have a santa advent calander and just nagged the usual filled with choc. one.

I'm not asking because I'm interested in doing the tradition though, I'm open to being blessed by the meanings. I need to write an article on something christmas-y and 3 things came to mind that I don't know much about: advent, 12 days of christmas and their christian meaning and the off christian topic of honukah (spelling). While I don't mind hearing traditions and what you think it means- I REALLY need to know about it's historic signifagance and facts.

Thanks ahead of time . . . -ren

[JeanineAnne]

Advent:
Advent is the period preceding the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, and covers four Sundays. Because the day it begins changes from year to year, so does the length of each Advent season. In 2006, Advent begins on December 3.

The word advent, from Latin, means “the coming.” For centuries, Advent has been a time of spiritual reflection as well as cheer and anticipation. Even as the Christmas season has become more secular-with advertisers urging holiday gift-givers to buy and buy some more-Advent still brings joy and the observance of ancient customs. Christian families find quiet moments lighting candles in the Advent wreath, and children use Advent calendars to count the days until Christmas.

The History of Advent
Advent has probably been observed since the fourth century. Originally, it was a time when converts to Christianity readied themselves for baptism.

During the Middle Ages, Advent became associated with preparation for the Second Coming. In early days Advent lasted from November 11, the feast of St. Martin, until Christmas Day. Advent was considered a pre-Christmas season of Lent when Christians devoted themselves to prayer and fasting. The Orthodox Eastern Church observes a similar Lenten season, from November 15 until Christmas, rather than Advent.



Many Christians still view Advent as a season to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus. In the last fifty years, however, it has also come to be thought of as a time of anticipating the Nativity, on Christmas Day.

Advent Wreaths
Advent wreaths have their origins in the folk traditions of northern Europe, where in the deep of winter people lit candles on wheel-shaped bundles of evergreen. Both the evergreen and the circular shape symbolized ongoing life. The candlelight gave comfort at this darkest time of the year, as people looked forward to the longer days of spring.

Later, Eastern European Christians adopted this practice. By the sixteenth century, they were making Advent wreaths much as we know them today. An advent wreath traditionally contains four candles-three purple and one rose. Purple dyes were one so rare and costly that they were associated with royalty; the Roman Catholic Church has long used this color around Christmas and Easter to honor Jesus. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday.

Sometimes a fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.

Because Advent wreaths are an informal celebration, not all are the same. Instead of purple candles, some people use blue, which recalls the color of the night sky before daylight returns. Others use all white candles.

Advent Calendars
Advent Calendars
An advent calendar is a card or poster with twenty-four small doors, one to be opened each day from December 1 until Christmas Eve. Each door conceals a picture. This popular tradition arose in Germany in the late 1800s and soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Originally, the images in Advent calendars were derived from the Hebrew Bible.

Considered a fun way of counting down the days until Christmas, many Advent calendars today have no religious content. Now, alongside traditional Advent calendars depicting angels and biblical figures are those whose doors open to display teddy bears, pieces of chocolate, or photos of pop stars.

www.factmonster.com

Hanukkah
Many Jewish holidays commemorate events invested with historical and religious meaning. Hanukkah means "dedication," and it commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by foreign forces. The celebration also reaffirms thecontinuing struggle to live by God's commandments and to lead Jewish lives.

When all is said and done, perhaps the most important message of Hanukkah may be found in the name of the holiday itself: Dedication. When Jews have dedicated themselves, through faith and action, to the pursuit of high religious and human ideals, Judaism has been strong. That imperative, to strengthen our religion and our people, remains an important challenge at this season, in every generation. Hanukkah begins this year (5767/2006) on the evening of December 15th.
www.joi.org

Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. In 2006 Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 15. With blessings, games, and festive foods, Hanukkah celebrates the triumphs—both religious and military—of ancient Jewish heroes.

Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish year. In the United States, however, its closeness to Christmas has brought greater attention to Hanukkah and its gift-giving tradition. Amid the ever-growing flood of Christmas advertising, it may seem especially fitting that the Hanukkah story tells of Jewish culture surviving in a non-Jewish world.

The Hanukkah Story
Nearly 2,200 years ago, the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to force Greek culture upon peoples in his territory. Jews in Judea—now Israel—were forbidden their most important religious practices as well as study of the Torah. Although vastly outnumbered, religious Jews in the region took up arms to protect their community and their religion. Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, the rebel armies became known as the Maccabees.

After three years of fighting, in the year 3597, or about 165 B.C.E., the Maccabees victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah. Next they prepared the temple for rededication—in Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication.” In the temple they found only enough purified oil to kindle the temple light for a single day. But miraculously, the light continued to burn for eight days.

The Menorah
The lighting of the menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiya, is the most important Hanukkah tradition. A menorah is a candlestand with nine branches. Usually eight candles—one for each day of Hanukkah—are of the same height, with a taller one in the middle, the shamash (“servant”), which is used to light the others. Each evening of Hanukkah, one more candle is lit, with a special blessing.

The menorah symbolizes the burning light in the temple, as well as marking the eight days of the Hanukkah festival. Some say it also celebrates the light of freedom won by the Maccabees for the Jewish people.

The Dreidel
Long a favorite Hanukkah toy, the dreidel once had a serious purpose. When the Syrians forbid study of the Torah, Jews who studied in secret kept spinning tops—sivivons, or dreidels—on hand. This way, if they were found studying, they could quickly pretend that they had only been playing.

Outside of Israel, a dreidel has the Hebrew letters “nun,” “gimel,” “hay,” and “shin” on its four sides. These letters stand for “Nes gadol haya sham,” which means, “A great miracle happened there,” referring to Israel. An Israeli dreidel has the letter “pay” rather than “shin.” This stands for “poh,” meaning “here”—“a great miracle happened here.”

The Hebrew letters also represent Yiddish words that tell how to play the dreidel game. Each player starts with the same amount of candies, chocolate coins (gelt), or other tokens, and puts one in a pot. Players take turns spinning the dreidel, waiting to see which letter lands face up. Nun is for “nisht,” nothing—do nothing. Gimel is for “gants,” whole—take the whole pot. Hay is for “halb,” half—take half. Shin is for “shtel,” to put in—add to the pot. The game ends when a single player wins all the tokens.

Hanukkah Foods
Many traditional Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil, in remembrance of the oil that burned in the temple. In the United States, the most widespread Hanukkah food is latkes, or potato pancakes, a custom that may have developed in Eastern Europe. In Israel, the favorite Hanukkah food is sufganiya, a kind of jelly donut cooked in oil. Israelis eat sufganiyot for more than a month before the start of Hanukkah.

Eating dairy products, especially cheese, is another Hanukkah tradition. This is done in memory of the Jewish heroine Judith, who according to legend saved her village from Syrian attackers. Judith fed wine and cheese to the Syrian general Holofernes until he became so drunk that he fell to the ground. She then seized his sword and cut off his head, which she brought back to her village in a basket. The next morning, Syrian troops found the headless body of their leader and fled in terror.
www.factmonster.com

12 Days of Christmas

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

- Author Unknown -

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. Have you ever wondered about The Twelve Days Of Christmas? What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Well, here it is... From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Roman Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning, known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching,
Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,
Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

So, there is your history for today. It interesting and enlightening, to say the least, and now you know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol. So next Christmas when you find yourself singing it... sing it for the reasons it was meant to be!

[JeanineAnne]

Tara, Good Morning :D

This year we are taking the time to teach our oldest daughter how to write and/or figure out what her Testimony is. It has been amazing watching her truly examine her relationship with and in Christ. Being that she has been raised to know the Lord all her life, this has been significant because she is finally seeing what it means to her personally. Sad a little bit for us, because we thought we'd done a better job of that :( Not beating ourselves up, but I was a little floored at how much she related her faith and beliefs to ours. Which is a good foundation, but we want her to know it, concretely (is that even a word!!! :shock: ), for herself. Perhaps she is just mentally to the point to start making that leap....either way, it has been a blessing not just to her but us :)

Our other specific goal during Christmas is to have as laid back of a schedule as possible. We pick what we do from Thanksgiving until New Year's very carefully. We want our children not to remember Christmas as a time of activity, but as a time of family bonding. We have 5 days (and one of those is our daughter's birthday) set aside for "stuff" during the last 45 days of the year. When you limit yourself, you choose carefully.

This isn't the best for some families, but as I watched the kids drag into Children's ministry yesterday, full of sleepy stories of this and that and the other and then when you ask if they had fun they just shrug because they are too tired to even care....well......plus add that tiredness to the anxiety and excitement and you have an awesome recipe for bad behavior ;)

[Ren]

OHHHHHHHHHHH THANKYOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!
this is really helpful=) I'm one of those google (really yahoo, usually) retarded people. . .I punch in what I think will bring up a wealth of knowledge and never seem to find what I need- so I need to rely of the kindness of strangers and the computer savey of friends=)


we are also trying to be low stress holiday season=)

[mamallama]

I voted that I am trying. I have never done one before. I am not doing the wreath but I am doing a small advent calendar from familyfun.com and also have been trying to do some things from the teachingmom website as well. We may not get to it every day but we try our best. :)