By Mary Powers
As the Church prepares for the birth of Jesus this Advent, bring the liturgical season into your home with these family traditions. Links to materials can be found by using the QR code at the end of the article.
ADVENT WREATH
Each Sunday in Advent, Catholics light Advent wreath candles at Mass representing the passing of each week in anticipation of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, the light of Christ coming into the world.
The Advent wreath tradition is rich in symbolism. The shape of the wreath symbolizes the eternity of God, while the evergreens symbolize new life and signs of hope. The four candles represent hope, love, joy and peace.
Bring this tradition into your home this year. It is an opportunity to bring the family together for prayer while lighting the Advent candles. You can buy wreaths and candles online and with new batterypowered candles, families can order flameless candles to avoid messy wax spills or other candle mishaps.
JESSE TREE
We all have family trees; why not honor the family tree of Jesus? The Jesse Tree is a tradition that follows biblical stories from creation to the birth of Jesus, showing
His family tree and reminding us of the centuries of expectant hope the Jewish people had for the coming of the Savior.
This tradition places ornaments on a Christmas tree, adding the story of salvation history to the traditional family Christmas ornaments. Make sure to have your Bible
ready to read through each story as you go.
MARY ON THE MANTLE
Heard of Elf on the Shelf? Mary on the Mantle is a similar idea but is a Catholic approach to preparing for Christmas.
Walk with Mary and Joseph throughout Advent doing good works for others and learning about their journey to Bethlehem. Every day, you will choose a card containing a good deed or an act of kindness to perform. The box set also includes a Mary doll, a baby bump to place under Mary’s dress during Advent, a baby Jesus with a swaddling cloth for Christmas season and a map of the Holy Land.
ADVENT CALENDAR
Advent calendars help count down the days to Christmas. These calendars come in all shapes and sizes. Some hold tasty treats behind cardboard windows while others may be wooden or felt with Bible verses or endearing icons to add each day. Whichever you choose, Advent calendars are a fun reminder that we wait in joyful participation of the coming of Christ.
SETTING UP THE NATIVITY SCENE
Just as Mary and Joseph prepared for the arrival of Jesus, set up your Nativity set liturgically. Leave the manger empty until Christmas to await the coming of
Jesus. And have the three kings travel across your home to make it to the creche by Jan. 6, feast of the Epiphany.
STRAW IN THE MANGER
Another idea to encourage good deeds and sacrifices during the penitential season is to gradually fill the manger with straw for Jesus by doing good works for others during
Advent. Each time a member of the family does a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, he or she can add a piece of hay to the manger, so that Jesus has a comfy setting in which to lay when He is born.
ST. NICHOLAS DAY
St. Nicholas was a bishop from Myra in Turkey in the fourth century. Known for his many acts of charity and kindness, his story led to the creation of Santa Claus (originally “Holy Nicholas”). The tradition of gift giving originates with the story of St. Nicholas saving a family of young women from slavery by providing their father with a dowry so they could marry.
On St. Nicholas’ Dec. 6 feast day, celebrate this gift giving with your family. Leave shoes out the night before for St. Nicholas to fill with goodies such as oranges, chocolate gold coins or other treats. The saint also comes on the night of Dec. 6 if you forget to leave your shoes out. He is a generous saint. Candy canes can also be given out to celebrate St. Nicholas as a symbol of a bishop’s crosier.
ST. LUCY’S DAY
Celebrate this Sicilian martyr on Dec. 13. In Scandinavian countries, the oldest daughter of the family dresses in a white dress with a red sash, wearing a green wreath with candles on her head. The white dress symbolizes purity, the red sash symbolizes martyrdom, and the crown represents the eternal love of God. The candles represent light, the meaning of St. Lucy’s name. In the early morning, “St. Lucy” will bring treats to the family such as cinnamon rolls or other sweet pastries.
The tradition originates in Sweden, partly to recognize the saint who with candles on her head to light the way brought food to Christians hiding in the catacombs. There is also a legend that she saved the country from famine in the Middle Ages. The people prayed to St. Lucy, and one night there was a ship that appeared with a bright light on board, bringing bread to the country, saving them from starvation.
To find more information visit www.sfarch.org/advent
