Advent is here!

Advent is here! Our family tradition is to put up our Christmas tree and decorations the first weekend of Advent. Putting the tree in the stand and stringing lights on it has always been my job, but this year the boys have helped me with that. They are getting old enough now to be a real help with these things, and that’s nice, because we always select large trees.

The boys were excited, even giddy, last night after we got the tree up and many of the decorations set out. There’s a real change in the atmosphere – furniture gets moved around to make room for the tree, decorations everywhere, Christmas music plays all the time, five or six crèches are set out, and the Advent wreath is setup. It all part of the expectations of Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year.

Comments

[~m2~]

send those boys over my way, steve - i need all the help i can get!

[Jeff]

Hi Steve,

It's a great time of year isn't it? Do you guys cut your own tree? We're going to try that for the first time this year. Ilove setting the tree up and letting the kids go to town on the decorations.

It's great that your boys are old enough to help out without getting underfoot. I had one of the classic Christmas-prep moments this afternoon, standing on the big stepladder, putting the large bulbs on the huge evergreen outside - and ebcountered a huge section in the middle strand that wouldn't light up exept for one bulb.

Argggh. :-)

[crystal]

It sounds so festive - thanks for sharing that :-)

[onionboy]

We also put our tree up on the first weekend of Advent. We've had a hardy fake one for a number of years. It's not the same but it does the trick. This is our second year lighting and Advent candle wreath and we do that with prayers and readings at table.

I have never really been much into Christmas but becoming Catholic has brought so much more meaning, an entire season and not a mere day, so my heart is changing.

[Victor]

The wonderful thing about Advent and the coming of Christmas is that even though some of us over do it and then there are some who don't do it at all, Christ never stops Loving any of US.

Thanks for the memories Steve.

[Maria]

Happy advent
Sorry for being an absent visitor of late! I'm back!
God bless
Maria in the UK
www.inhishands.co.uk

[Steve Bogner]

Penni, I'm sure they'd love to make a trip! Some day...

Jeff, we used to cut down a live one, but the problem in this area of Ohio is that everything is grown on a hill, so the tree trunks are hardly ever straight!

Crystal - You are welcome; and yes, it is festive!

Owen, my wife was born & raised in Pentecostal Protestant churches, so all this Catholic-oriented Advent & Christmas tradition was very new to her too. But, similar to you, she quickly grabbed on to it because it was a season and not only a day. Everyone should 'do' Christmas this way ;)

Victor - True, true. THanks for the reminder!

Maria - No need to ever be sorry for that type of thing around here, but it is good to hear form you again :)