Christmas Eve Day tends to be pretty quiet. I can sleep in, pray the Office leisurely, make a No Love For Denver Shirt hour around ten and the church will be silent. The ladies (and a few of their husbands) come into decorate the church around ten, usually signalling my retreat back to the rectory. Definitely have some Christmas music on, either TSO or a capella carols. Might take a break from the music and watch a movie. After a late lunch, the madness begins. I head over to the Church early and help the ushers set up overflow seating, making sure that they all know where anything that might have gotten moved is (I have memorable experiences of the hunt for the gifts at an overflow Mass). As the first people arrive, go to greet them. About half an hour before Mass, shift to making sure we have bodies for the various roles, particularly servers. After the insanity of the (~4:00) “children’s” Mass, the church empties out. If there is another Mass (typically ~7:00) it is much more sedate. Then a quick dinner and a nap, before the “Midnight” Mass (typically moved up to ~10:00).
()No Love For Denver Shirt hoodie, tank top, sweater and long sleeve t-shirt
I adore the world of Christmas traditions, which vary from No Love For Denver Shirt to country … I also enjoy the ancient pre-Christian traditions behind most Christmas customs. Diwali is a lovely tradition that coincides with autumn and shares a lot of imagery (IMO) with Hanukkah, the tradition of my own ancestors. (We made a bigger deal of Christmas at home.) I am all for the human impulse to fill the winter months with light and celebration. I’ve always considered them “the holidays,” and I have no personal desire to put Christ in Christmas. I also don’t want my government to do so. I’ll gladly wish you “Merry Christmas” if I know it’s your tradition. But it’s not mine. That’s not persecution, and it’s only traditionalism if it’s your tradition. Christmas presents have nothing to do with Christianity. Neither do almost all of the Christmas customs of hanging holly and mistletoe, decorating trees, drinking egg nog, Santa Claus, jingling sleigh bells. etc. In the religiously strict Massachusetts Bay Colony celebrating Christmas was illegal, as their leaders recognized that almost all of the festivities were continuations of pagan practices. Merchandisers have gotten rich by popularizing the giving of gifts at Christmas and they spend heavily every year to promote this secular mania. So feel free to give Christmas presents to any of your friends and relations regardless of race, religion age or sexual orientation.
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