A few years ago our family took to celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas. That was back when #1 daughter began noticing Santa Claus and asking a bunch of questions for which I didn't want to make up answers. So we researched St. Nicholas and discovered a wonderful real person who lived Christ's love in fullness. Now that was someone I wanted my children to be acquainted with!
Along the way we also decided to make December 6th our family gift exchange. My husband stays home from work, we bring out the china and the table cloth, light a million candles, examine our bulging stockings (filled with symbols of Nicholas' life), eat brunch and open our gifts to each other. We take time to retell the part of God's story that Nicholas lived. The beauty of this is that we get to focus the rest of the month on what we are giving to others...like St. Nicholas did! We also take more time to reflect and anticipate Christ's coming. In our house there are no gifts under the tree as we wait...just a large creche with an empty manger. (Jesus is hiding in a red velvet bag among the candles on the mantle, this is no secret either.) Together we are waiting for the eve when the bag is unwrapped and Jesus fills His rightful place.
May your advent season be filled with examples of Christ's love, like St. Nicholas and may you pause to notice the empty manger - the place in your life you are just waiting for Jesus to fill.
Blessings on St. Nicholas' feast day.
5 comments:
Will you share your research? This is lovely . . .
C - I've been here there and everywhere, you know the internet! But hands down the best site I found and took a lot of ideas from was this one: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23
Plus they've got amazing graphics!
Your family tradition sounds very nice. Plus you do it on Finland's birthday - December 6th is our independence day :)
This is wonderful! Wow... a lot of food for thought. I am glad SWB asked her question... I wanted to know that too...
I am VERY intrigued!
I love your traditions that bring you to worship.
MOM
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