Advent has a very interesting history; in the beginning it wasn’t even called “Advent.” After Christianity became legal,during the reign of the Emperor Constantine, there developed among the early Christians certain feasts that celebrated the different events during the life of the Lord. One of these feasts was the birth of Jesus, which was decided to be on December 25, although neither then, nor now was there an attempt to say this was the actual date of His birth. Although Epiphany is an older feast, Christmas spread throughout the Roman Empire reaching France and Germany rather quickly.
To prepare for a major religious celebration, certain customs and spiritual preparations arose among Christians. The main spiritual preparation was fasting, denying oneself, so as to really celebrate and enjoy the feast. As early as AD 490, the bishop of Tours in France ordered the faithful to fast on three days each week following the feast of St. Martin onNovember 11 until December 25. St. Martin
was the famous bishop of Tours who died in AD 397. As a result, the time ofChristmas preparation was known as the Forty days of St. Martin. The custom spread and similar practices were started
in Spain and Germany. Since Lent was also a time of spiritual preparation, many of the practices of Lent were used for Advent as well. It wasn’t until the sixth century that a more formal period of preparation was established.
Meanwhile back in Rome, the preparation for Christmas was shorter and more celebratory and very festive. As the years passed, these two traditions merged: the penitential practices of the French and the prayers of the Roman liturgy. Today we still have that blend.
Advent is a spiritual time of preparation for Christmas only after we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ at the end of time. The change takes place on December 17.
It would be great if we prepare ourselves only spiritually for Christmas, but that is not possible. Let us decorate our homes with the sight and symbols of Christmas to remind us it can also be a spiritual timel. Take, for example, the Christmas tree, it comes
to us from the day that St. Boniface of Germany cut down a tree
sacred to the pagans and replaced it with the Tree of Life: the Cross that evergreen-life giving tree,even in the cold of the winter.
And upon the tree are put lights, to symbolize the Light to the World, Jesus Christ. Amid the dark days of winter, the tree shines like the day. Another symbol is the evergreen circle of the wreath, God without beginning or end, and on thewreath is placed the holly with red berries. These recall the thorns and the color of the Precious Blood that was shed on Good Friday. The gift of God our Father in giving us His Divine Son, Jesus makes us give gifts to the ones we love, like the Magi. We sing carols like the angels as we light our homes to guide the Holy Family to dwell with us in our house.
Our Divine Lord came to us 2,016 years ago, and He will come
again to claim us as His own. We have four complete weeks
this year to prepare ourselves spiritually for both comings of Christ. As we decorate our homes, and put up our trees, and hang our wreathes we also need to remind ourselves and to teach our children, that this season is about God and His love for us. So, tell the kids about Santa, Rudolph and Frosty, but also tell them why we hang our decorations with such care. Blessed Advent to you!