How are you celebrating Christmas?
Notice: I asked this question in the present tense. "But it's five days after Christmas!" I hear you say.
My question is valid.
How are you celebrating Christmas?
Now that I'm an adult, I'm still learning about how to celebrate Christmas. This year, one realization really came home to me: we celebrate a Christmas season. Advent and Christmas Day are extremely important, of course, but as a dear blogger friend of mine has pointed out, there are 16 days of the season following the big day.
16 days. That's over two weeks, and we are supposed to be celebrating during that time.
At least, I think we are.
It's a little hard to tell nowadays when Christmas merchandise goes on sale at 80% discounts the day after. Christmas music that has been playing for over a month on the radio disappears as soon as December 26 begins. Lights come off of houses before the year is out.
The party is over, the secular world says. Let's look at New Year's Eve now.
EXCUSE ME.
I'm trying to enjoy a fortnight of liturgical joy, and you want me to cut that short? No.
Society has it all wrong. Everyone seems to think that once the big day comes and goes, it's over. Just like that. If one were to turn this situation into a novel, everyone would hate the ending. There's build-up...anticipation...a climax...and...that's it. No denouement. No explanation of have things have turned out after the excitement is over. No bittersweet parting to journey across the sea with the elves. Nothing.
It makes sense that we should have a fitting ending for our preparation. If a person has prepared for Jesus' birth for four weeks, it's a bit of a letdown to have things end with Christmas Day.
I mean, Jesus is born! We have (hopefully) worked hard to prepare our hearts for His Coming, and He has arrived! Isn't that exciting?
I think it is. In fact, I think we should all take a page out of the books of the Redwall series and celebrate Christmas in a big way. At the end of every Redwall book, the heroes celebrate their victory with a feast. More often than not, the feast lasts three days. Can you imagine three days of eating? I'm not advocating for gluttony, but I think the Redwallers had the right idea. Victory of good over evil is a big deal and worth celebrating for multiple days.
Jesus' birth was also important to the salvation and redemption of the world. We should still be celebrating.
I don't know what the best way is to continue the celebration. Eating special treats is good, but easy to over-indulge in. Maybe some extra prayers, especially of thanksgiving, would be fitting.
I apologize for the rambling post, but I hope you have found something of worth in it.
