Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, be plenteous in mercy is to have the real spirit of Christmas. Calvin Coolidge.
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. The Eastern churches' equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1.
Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined as the period from Christmas Eve to Epiphany. This period is also commonly known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, as referred to in the Christmas carol of the same name, or Yuletide, as in "Deck the Halls".
Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.
Holiday season or simply the holidays in the United States and Canada, is an annual festive period that surrounds Christmas and various other holidays. It is generally considered to run from late November to early January. Its relation to Christmas in official use by schools and governments has resulted in controversy in western countries. It incorporates a period of shopping which comprises a peak season for the retail sector, and a period of sales at the end of the season.
The liturgical year consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.(from Wikipedia)
Jesus Christ was born in 2-6 BCE in Bethlehem, Judea. Little is known about his early life, but as a young man, he founded Christianity, one of the world’s most influential religions. His life is recorded in the New Testament, more a theological document than a biography. According to Christians, Jesus is considered the incarnation of God and his teachings an example for living a more spiritual life. Christians believe he died for the sins of all people and rose from the dead.
The liturgical year, also known as the church year is the arrangement of the Church’s celebrations of the various events in the life of Christ and the mysteries of our faith throughout the year. In both East and West, the dates of many feasts vary from year to year, usually in line with the variation in the date of Easter, with which most other moveable feasts are associated.
Jesus (7–2 BC/BCE to 30–36 AD/CE), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity, whom a majority of Christian denominations believe to be the Son of God.Virtually all scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed
The Catholic year (the "liturgical year") is made special by cycles of celebrations commemorating the lives of Jesus and His mother, the angels, and the legion of Saints who modelled lives of sanctity
Christmas Eve is the name given to December 24, the day before the Christmas holiday. As per the Western Christian Churches, the Christmas season is supposed to begin on the Christmas Eve itself. The late afternoon or early evening of December 24 is reserved for saying the 'Mass of the Vigil'. The Christmas season comes to an end on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on the Sunday following the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
Most Catholics, following the old traditions, celebrate the midnight Mass at midnight on Christmas. Christmas Eve has today gained almost the same level of importance as the holiday itself. Christmas celebrations start on the eve of Christmas itself. In the following lines, we have provided some ideas for celebrating the Eve of Christmas.
Jesus Christ. He was known as Jehovah by the Old Testament prophets. The prophets were shown of His coming: “Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!". His mother was told, “Call his name Jesus. … He shall be … called the Son of the Highest” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
The liturgical year. It`s also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years. Along with the major days marking the liturgical seasons, every day of the year was feast day of some saint. The importance of these days varied from time to time and region to region -- there were plenty of locally-honored saints whose following only spread over a few square miles, as well as saint's days that were major seasonal markers, like St. John's Eve and Michaelmas. The average peasant might not know the date, but he knew when the festivals were.Than followes Christmastide))))
Christmastide begins with Christmas Eve (the liturgical day actually begins with Vigils or Matins, the nighttime office). The darkest day of the year, the winter solstice (December 22), also marks the beginning of longer days. In northern latitudes where the seasonal changes in light are profound, it has ancient pagan roots as a celebration of light. In the classical Mediterranean, the Roman Saturnalia celebrated at this time was also a holiday of feasting and gift-giving, enjoying and praying for prosperity. And of course, the Jewish festival of lights, Hannukah, also occurs this time of year. That these traditions dovetail so nicely with the celebration of the birth of Christ, the Prince of Light, is probably no coincidence but a tribute to the adaptability of early Christianity. Christmas Day is followed by a number of feast days: St. Stephen (Dec 26), the Holy Innocents (Dec. 28), the Circumcision of Christ (Jan. 1), and Epiphany (Jan. 6), the "twelfth night" of the long Christmas celebration.
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. The Eastern churches' equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1.
ReplyDeleteChristmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined as the period from Christmas Eve to Epiphany. This period is also commonly known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, as referred to in the Christmas carol of the same name, or Yuletide, as in "Deck the Halls".
ReplyDeleteChristmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.
ReplyDeleteHoliday season or simply the holidays in the United States and Canada, is an annual festive period that surrounds Christmas and various other holidays. It is generally considered to run from late November to early January. Its relation to Christmas in official use by schools and governments has resulted in controversy in western countries. It incorporates a period of shopping which comprises a peak season for the retail sector, and a period of sales at the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteThe liturgical year consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.(from Wikipedia)
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ was born in 2-6 BCE in Bethlehem, Judea. Little is known about his early life, but as a young man, he founded Christianity, one of the world’s most influential religions. His life is recorded in the New Testament, more a theological document than a biography. According to Christians, Jesus is considered the incarnation of God and his teachings an example for living a more spiritual life. Christians believe he died for the sins of all people and rose from the dead.
ReplyDeleteThe liturgical year, also known as the church year is the arrangement of the Church’s celebrations of the various events in the life of Christ and the mysteries of our faith throughout the year. In both East and West, the dates of many feasts vary from year to year, usually in line with the variation in the date of Easter, with which most other moveable feasts are associated.
ReplyDeleteJesus (7–2 BC/BCE to 30–36 AD/CE), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity, whom a majority of Christian denominations believe to be the Son of God.Virtually all scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed
ReplyDeleteChristmastide is a Christian festival observed from December 24, Christmas Eve, to January 5, the eve of Epiphany.
ReplyDeleteThe Catholic year (the "liturgical year") is made special by cycles of celebrations commemorating the lives of Jesus and His mother, the angels, and the legion of Saints who modelled lives of sanctity
ReplyDeleteChristmas Eve is the name given to December 24, the day before the Christmas holiday. As per the Western Christian Churches, the Christmas season is supposed to begin on the Christmas Eve itself. The late afternoon or early evening of December 24 is reserved for saying the 'Mass of the Vigil'. The Christmas season comes to an end on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on the Sunday following the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
ReplyDeleteMost Catholics, following the old traditions, celebrate the midnight Mass at midnight on Christmas. Christmas Eve has today gained almost the same level of importance as the holiday itself. Christmas celebrations start on the eve of Christmas itself. In the following lines, we have provided some ideas for celebrating the Eve of Christmas.
Jesus Christ. He was known as Jehovah by the Old Testament prophets. The prophets were shown of His coming: “Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!". His mother was told, “Call his name Jesus. … He shall be … called the Son of the Highest” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
ReplyDeleteGod. He was with God in the beginning.
The liturgical year. It`s also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.
Along with the major days marking the liturgical seasons, every day of the year was feast day of some saint. The importance of these days varied from time to time and region to region -- there were plenty of locally-honored saints whose following only spread over a few square miles, as well as saint's days that were major seasonal markers, like St. John's Eve and Michaelmas. The average peasant might not know the date, but he knew when the festivals were.Than followes Christmastide))))
Christmastide begins with Christmas Eve (the liturgical day actually begins with Vigils or Matins, the nighttime office). The darkest day of the year, the winter solstice (December 22), also marks the beginning of longer days. In northern latitudes where the seasonal changes in light are profound, it has ancient pagan roots as a celebration of light. In the classical Mediterranean, the Roman Saturnalia celebrated at this time was also a holiday of feasting and gift-giving, enjoying and praying for prosperity. And of course, the Jewish festival of lights, Hannukah, also occurs this time of year. That these traditions dovetail so nicely with the celebration of the birth of Christ, the Prince of Light, is probably no coincidence but a tribute to the adaptability of early Christianity. Christmas Day is followed by a number of feast days: St. Stephen (Dec 26), the Holy Innocents (Dec. 28), the Circumcision of Christ (Jan. 1), and Epiphany (Jan. 6), the "twelfth night" of the long Christmas celebration.
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.
ReplyDeleteNo more new commentaries!
ReplyDeleteIf you have anything to add, do it as a reply to the already posted commentaries!