Christmas Traditions

It is always my hope that each Holy Day will be celebrated with our children as Holy indeed.  This year we're revamping some traditions to try to keep Christ in the center of our celebration.  Keeping the Orthodox fast throughout Advent is one way we are being drawn ever closer to our Lord as we truly sacrifice throughout the season of preparation.  Hungry tummies have a way of creating discipline, giving teeth to the feeling of emptiness and need which cultivates awareness that there is something wonderful coming which can fill that emptiness. 

We've also been involving as many of the kids as possible in learning the Orthodox Nativity hymns.  The hymns are beautifully arranged and spell out every aspect of Christ's Nativity.  I am especially moved by the litanies in which the choir chants God is With Us as the priest chants profound truths about Who God Is....stunningly beautiful to the soul. 

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be simpler this year - with the whole focus on our church family and the gathering together in the services and prayers.  The gifts will be simpler - each child receiving three gifts just as the infant Christ received three gifts from the wise men.  Their stockings will be filled with candy for each one to ration until Pascha and the many little gadgets and breakable, disposable toys will be absent this year.

So far the Advent season has been peppered with various other feast days.  We took Thanksgiving as our own, stayed at home, invited a friend who was without family for the holiday, the grandparents who came and went as they pleased and all of us worked together to plan and cook and play and rest.  It was glorious.  Today we celebrated St. Nicholas' feast day.  The children received small gifts in their shoes this morning and visited with St. Nicholas at church.  In another week we will celebrated the Feast day of St. Lucia as well (and Ruth's birthday).  

The pace will be slower - and set by the rhythm of our church services.  I'm excited.  I think this year the children will really begin to understand the Spirit of the celebration of the Nativity in a new way - I know I have already.

It is, however, a Feast - a joyous occasion, and as such I don't want the joy and the magic of the Nativity season to elude us.  So some of our sillier traditions will continue - I'm sure Muffy and Granddad will put a theme gift in each stocking for a family picture, we've already broken out the edition of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and there will be a large gift for the family to enjoy together which will bring tremendous joy to the children.  In researching various traditions, I came across this one...not sure we'll go quite that far but it's worth the word picture to think about.

Anne M. of TX
Everyone gets new underwear for Christmas. Then we take a picture of all of us with the underwear on our heads. It started when my kids were 9,7 and 2. They are now 28, 26 and 21. And now we have spouses in the pics!!!!

Feast of St. Nicholas

In Myra you proved yourself to be a priest,
a servant of divine things, O Saint,
for you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, O holy one.
You gave up your life for your people
and saved the innocent from death.
You have been sanctified
for you were a great guide towards the things of God.
—Antiochian Orthodox

JM Getting Ready to Play in the Snow

Mom, there's something in this boot.  It might be a stick.  Oh, it's a battery...and a...pair of scissors.

Friday Photos

Faith at 3 months!

When Puppies Take to Gymnastics

Tuesday was observation day at Gymnastics class.  Betsy, JM and David have been taking a 5-8 year old class together and watching the boys in particular was a real hoot.  They have learned some skills but they also just cannot keep their hands off of each other.  I had a great time watching them and, when all the pictures turned out blurry, decided to switch to video where I caught some great standing in line action.  I think this is hilarious enough to endure 5 minutes of video but maybe that's just me...

Betsy's contribution was much less comical but still fun to watch:


And just for Muffy's sake because Dad won't let her download video viewing software here are some regular ol' pics of the event:

Friday Photos

I was inspired by my photographer friend Jocelyn to snap some pictures on Sunday of my girls with their godmothers and their icons on their baptismal day.  I love these pictures.  We decided we need to retake them when the godmothers have their icons handy also.  Andrea is holding St. Catherine and Lia has St. Natalie.

Presenting the Newly Illumined Catherine and Natalie

We had a beautiful Baptismal Liturgy this morning to welcome Andrea and Faith into the Family of God.  Andrea took St. Catherine as her saint after her own middle name, Kathryn and we gave St. Natalie charge over Faith.  In the Orthodox tradition, they will now use these names as their Christian names, particularly when participating in the sacraments.  The liturgy was a bit unique as Fr. Greg wanted to revive the older tradition of the Baptismal Liturgy in which the baptism and chrismation are integrated into the Divine Liturgy.  It was absolutely wonderful - so much more organic in the prayers and flow of the liturgy and sacraments.

I adjure you by the Living God, Who has shown forth the Tree of Life, and posted the Cherubim, and the flaming sword that turns about to guard this: be rebuked, and depart, for I forbid you, through Him that walks on the waves of the sea as upon the dry land, Who forbade the storm of the winds, Whose glance dries up the deep, and Whose threatenings melt the mountains; for it is He Himself that now forbids you through us. Be afraid, and depart, and absent yourself from this creature, and come not back, neither hide yourself in him (her), nor encounter him (her), nor influence him (her) either by night or by day, nor in the morning or at noon; but get you hence to your own Tartarus, until the appointed day of Judgment.

Drive out from her every evil and unclean spirit, hiding and lurking in her heart.  The spirit of error, the spirit of evil, the spirit of idolatry and of all covetousness that works according to the teaching of the devil. Make her a reason-endowed sheep of the holy Flock of Your Christ, and honorable member of Your Church, a hallowed vessel, a child of Light, and heir of Your Kingdom.

That this water may be hallowed by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit; let us pray to the Lord.
That there may be sent down upon it the Grace of Redemption, the blessing of the Jordan; let us pray to the Lord.
That there may come down upon this water the cleansing operation of the Supersubstantial Trinity; let us pray to the Lord.

But do You, O Master of All, declare this water to be water of redemption, water of sanctification, a cleansing of flesh and spirit, a loosing of bonds, a forgiveness of sins, an illumination of soul, a laver of regeneration, a renewal of the spirit, a gift of sonship, a garment of incorruption, a fountain of life.

do You Yourself bless this Oil by the power (+) and operation (+) and descent of the Holy Spirit (+) that it may become an anointing of incorruption, a shield of righteousness, a renewal of soul and body, and averting of every operation of the devil, to the removal of all evils from them that are anointed with it in faith, or that are partakers of it.

The servant of God is baptized in the Name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son, Amen. And of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

A robe of divine light bestow upon me, O You that for vesture array Yourself with Light; and bestow many mercies, O Christ our God, who are plenteous in mercy.

The servant of God is anointed with the Oil of Gladness, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

For healing of soul and body

For the hearing of Faith

That she may walk in the paths of Your commandments

Your hands have made me, and fashioned me

THE SEAL OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN

As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia

The Reading from the Holy Gospel

First Holy Eucharist

Glory, bless (+) this Your servant, who is come now to make offering the firstlings of hair shorn from her head

I *do* see the resemblance!

Thanks Jen!

Princess Atti-tu-tu-de