Happy Advent Eve! I love the phrase "festive discomfort"—we tell our kids all the time that "waiting is hard, but you don't have to do hard things by yourself"... so excited for a liturgical season of doing the hard work of waiting together.
Loving listening to Autumn's thoughts on a literary life. Last year was my "The Year of the Re-Read" where I revisited books I hadn't read since high school and college and it was just so lovely. This video was so encouraging as I enter into a year where reading time has greatly shrunk in my daily schedule.
I love the "year of the re-read" idea! I told Autumn that 2024 *may* be my "year of the reading-what-I-already-own-instead-of-collecting-more-books-I-want-to-read." 😬
Dec 1, 2023·edited Dec 1, 2023Liked by Tsh Oxenreider
Oh my gosh. I am the 1.5%.
We save Christmas music and cookies until Christmas Eve. (I mean, we'll still go caroling with friends or something or eat cookies at a party! But just in our home.) We do listen to a lot of Advent music before then!
We have a really beloved tradition of starting Christmas with Christmas Eve dinner, after which we transform all the purple in the house into red, green, and gold and then sit by the tree and the fire, eating cookies and fudge and, after reading the Gospel aloud, singing Christmas carols for the first time that year! This is my kids' favorite day of the year (even beats Christmas Day!).
I knew this was a bit uncommon, but didn't realize HOW unusual we are in terms of the music, at least!
I love this! And I love the idea of turning all your purple into truly Christmas colors... Beautiful. When I say I begin music on the first day of Advent, I mean 90% Advent music... I like to start true, legit Christmas music on Christmas Eve as well. I think you're less alone that you think — I think the question may have been interpreted differently by different readers.
Dec 1, 2023·edited Dec 1, 2023Liked by Tsh Oxenreider
You're probably right!
Honestly, I wait impatiently all year to listen to "Advent at Ephesus." And of course, I'm a big fan of "Lessons and Carols!" There's such a beautiful canon of Advent music out there!
Also...I definitely sang the Christmas carol "In the Bleak Midwinter" to myself through contractions when I was in labor with my 4th baby in late November a few years ago. Just felt right!
Oooo I love it! Have you read Gertrud Mueller Nelson? Years ago, that's where I first really caught the vision of waiting to light the Christmas tree until Christmas Eve, and what a wondrous reveal it was. Very Tasha Tudor, too.
I'm taking baby steps in that direction, but it's a learning process!
Our only kiddo, Lillian, who's about to turn 19, was a winter solstice baby, and so she has always associated Christmas music with happiness and fun (Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé, and Harry Connick Jr. have always been her favorites). So, while I might like to put things off until Advent has concluded, it's kind if difficult when Christmas music is played all 12 months of the year at our house. :-)
I love that “Hannah Coulter” quotation so much, “I am not all the way capable of so much. But those are the right instructions.” It encapsulates the Christian life in one line.
I believe in festive discomfort all year round! For example, when my 4YO turned 5, she wasn't allowed to wear any clothes that said 5T on it until her actual birthday. That way she got a whole new wardrobe along with all her birthday presents!
I appreciate the Advent reminder #3 Stay quiet. At times in my life I've gone to both ends of the spectrum. I love the thought to say a prayer and let it go. I'm happy to begin Shadow & Light for a second season. I was immensely sad to switch from your Advent playlist to Holly, Jolly Christmas songs last year just because of the peace I felt last Advent.
what a comforting place to be, reading your piece and savoring those lovely images. I found so many new interesting resources just reading this piece, e.g. your lovely Advent piece over at Hearth and Field. Thank you. Thank you.
I have grown up Protestant (a German pastor's kid). Still my mother was very intentional about Advent (may be coming from her more pietist background). We did not know much about the 12 days of Christmas but we always kept our tree and the singing until Epiphany :-)
Yes! Yes yes! I'm doing a winter version of "spring cleaning" this Advent, to try to pare things down. I feel like when I physically clean out a space and really sift through it, something in my soul mirrors that? Wishful thinking, maybe, haha. But - cheers to embracing our seasonal, sacramental world.
Also, your H&F article is BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for taking us on the journey of folding Advent into real life.
I'm saving this to listen to your anxiety episode tomorrow - this is something I REALLY am intrigued by, as an anxious person.
Happy Advent Eve! I love the phrase "festive discomfort"—we tell our kids all the time that "waiting is hard, but you don't have to do hard things by yourself"... so excited for a liturgical season of doing the hard work of waiting together.
Loving listening to Autumn's thoughts on a literary life. Last year was my "The Year of the Re-Read" where I revisited books I hadn't read since high school and college and it was just so lovely. This video was so encouraging as I enter into a year where reading time has greatly shrunk in my daily schedule.
I love the "year of the re-read" idea! I told Autumn that 2024 *may* be my "year of the reading-what-I-already-own-instead-of-collecting-more-books-I-want-to-read." 😬
Oh my gosh. I am the 1.5%.
We save Christmas music and cookies until Christmas Eve. (I mean, we'll still go caroling with friends or something or eat cookies at a party! But just in our home.) We do listen to a lot of Advent music before then!
We have a really beloved tradition of starting Christmas with Christmas Eve dinner, after which we transform all the purple in the house into red, green, and gold and then sit by the tree and the fire, eating cookies and fudge and, after reading the Gospel aloud, singing Christmas carols for the first time that year! This is my kids' favorite day of the year (even beats Christmas Day!).
I knew this was a bit uncommon, but didn't realize HOW unusual we are in terms of the music, at least!
I love this! And I love the idea of turning all your purple into truly Christmas colors... Beautiful. When I say I begin music on the first day of Advent, I mean 90% Advent music... I like to start true, legit Christmas music on Christmas Eve as well. I think you're less alone that you think — I think the question may have been interpreted differently by different readers.
You're probably right!
Honestly, I wait impatiently all year to listen to "Advent at Ephesus." And of course, I'm a big fan of "Lessons and Carols!" There's such a beautiful canon of Advent music out there!
Also...I definitely sang the Christmas carol "In the Bleak Midwinter" to myself through contractions when I was in labor with my 4th baby in late November a few years ago. Just felt right!
Oooo I love it! Have you read Gertrud Mueller Nelson? Years ago, that's where I first really caught the vision of waiting to light the Christmas tree until Christmas Eve, and what a wondrous reveal it was. Very Tasha Tudor, too.
I'm taking baby steps in that direction, but it's a learning process!
No! Any particular recommendations from among her books?
"To Dance With God: Family Ritual & Community Celebration"
Intriguing!
Our only kiddo, Lillian, who's about to turn 19, was a winter solstice baby, and so she has always associated Christmas music with happiness and fun (Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé, and Harry Connick Jr. have always been her favorites). So, while I might like to put things off until Advent has concluded, it's kind if difficult when Christmas music is played all 12 months of the year at our house. :-)
Lovely!
I love that “Hannah Coulter” quotation so much, “I am not all the way capable of so much. But those are the right instructions.” It encapsulates the Christian life in one line.
It really does, doesn’t it?
I believe in festive discomfort all year round! For example, when my 4YO turned 5, she wasn't allowed to wear any clothes that said 5T on it until her actual birthday. That way she got a whole new wardrobe along with all her birthday presents!
I appreciate the Advent reminder #3 Stay quiet. At times in my life I've gone to both ends of the spectrum. I love the thought to say a prayer and let it go. I'm happy to begin Shadow & Light for a second season. I was immensely sad to switch from your Advent playlist to Holly, Jolly Christmas songs last year just because of the peace I felt last Advent.
I get this! Advent music is my favorite.
what a comforting place to be, reading your piece and savoring those lovely images. I found so many new interesting resources just reading this piece, e.g. your lovely Advent piece over at Hearth and Field. Thank you. Thank you.
I have grown up Protestant (a German pastor's kid). Still my mother was very intentional about Advent (may be coming from her more pietist background). We did not know much about the 12 days of Christmas but we always kept our tree and the singing until Epiphany :-)
Hello! I’m so glad to hear, Almut -- thank you for sharing!
Yes! Yes yes! I'm doing a winter version of "spring cleaning" this Advent, to try to pare things down. I feel like when I physically clean out a space and really sift through it, something in my soul mirrors that? Wishful thinking, maybe, haha. But - cheers to embracing our seasonal, sacramental world.
Also, your H&F article is BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for taking us on the journey of folding Advent into real life.
I'm saving this to listen to your anxiety episode tomorrow - this is something I REALLY am intrigued by, as an anxious person.