Christmas expectations in North America vs. Christian expectations
How can we possibly convince our children that Christmas is about the birth of Christ and not Santa, gifts, and stressed-out parents? And how can we put Advent First and Santa Second so we can keep Christ in Christmas?
Our son expects the Christmas tree to make an appearance with the first snowflake to hit the pavement. He associates winter and snow with Santa and gifts. When we had the first snowfall on Sunday, he immediately asked if we could put up the Christmas tree when we returned home from church.
In North America, this is the logical correlation that kids make. After all, the Christmas decorations come up at the stroke of midnight on October 31st, making November and December a mad rush to Christmas Eve and the opening of the gifts.
Re-focusing on Advent
To reclaim Advent, I came up with a rebellious plan a few years ago. The Nativity Scene came out before the Christmas tree!
On the first day of the Coptic fast ( 43 days preceding the Orthodox Christmas which is celebrated on January 7th), I ceremoniously set up all of our Nativity scenes ( I have quite a few) and explain to our son that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is my way of “keeping Christ in Christmas”.
The Christmas tree makes its appearance a week after. The delay serves to reinforce the notion that the tree and the gifts are secondary to the birth of Christ.
Because
After all,
That is what Christmas is all about!
Blessed Coptic Fast to all and may your Christmas season be full of Christ!
In Christ,
Mireille
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7 Comments
jen
There are also things like this: https://www.facebook.com/thewanderingwisemen/?fref=ts
jen
Some of my friends also do a “Jesse tree” before they decorate a Christmas tree and you could adapt that idea to reflect the increased length of time of the St. Philip’s Fast.
Mireille Mishriky
I love the idea of a Jesse tree!
Phoebe Farag Mikhail
My mother in law on a visit from Egypt noticed how people were putting up Christmas trees and all the lights, and in her simplicity she remarked, “They are doing this because of the burning bush.” So now, when we put up our tree, we sing the Kiahk hymn “The Burning Bush” and thus directly connect the Christmas tree to the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tania
What a great idea!!! Shukran Mireille!!! Our daughter is 2 but i guess it’s never too early to start?
Mireille Mishriky
Thank you very much Tania- God bless you and our whole family today and always.
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