We live in a time of waiting. Christmas is approaching rapidly. It includes several dimensions that partly overlap. On the one hand, Christmas is a Christian feast, the most significant after Easter, when Christ died for us and rose from the dead. On the other hand, Christmas is a family celebration, when gifts are exchanged and meals are shared. In addition, Christmas has become a mega-festival of consumption. Vast numbers of presents are bought, often later exchanged for something else—or simply for money. Many people do not care about Christmas at all but instead travel on holiday to ski resorts or to the sunny beaches of the south.
Christmas also has a fourth dimension, related to one’s family and life situation. In Helsinki, more than half of the population live in single-person households. Nearly half do not belong to a Christian church and do not profess the Christian faith. For them, Christmas is often simply a longer—and sometimes rather dull—holiday. One stays at home, watches television, or takes the daily walk with the dog.
For a believing Christian, Christmas and the Advent season preceding the feast of Christ’s birth are a time of fasting, prayer, a calmer rhythm of life, and reflection. During the four weeks of Advent, one reshapes daily life so that, through prayer and devotions, one is prepared to receive the Christ Child in the manger. A believing Catholic strengthens his or her prayer life by visiting the church more frequently, going to Confession, and receiving Holy Communion. One may take part in retreats and decide on a personal fast—a simpler way of living. One may abstain from certain foods, rise earlier in the morning to pray the Rosary before work or studies, visit an elderly person and spend time in prayer and in reading the Bible or the prayers and stories of the saints, or donate food or clothing to those in need. Overall, one seeks to live a holier life in communion with the Church and the parish. The liturgical colour of Advent is violet. In the Byzantine and Orthodox traditions, the Advent fast is longer—forty days—and more demanding, as it also was in the West until the eleventh century. Advent is a time of preparation and conversion, as we await the feast of our Saviour’s birth.
The celebration of Christmas itself naturally includes the Christmas Masses, above all the Midnight Mass. One may help decorate and clean the church. Candles are lit on the graves of the departed, especially those of close family members. The Christmas meal is ideally shared with one’s closest relatives. Some follow an old tradition and invite a poor stranger, neighbour, or person in need to share the Christmas table. Visits are also made to care homes, bringing Christmas food or a small gift.
After the Christmas holidays, one reflects on what has taken place. God has become man in order to save us. He has given us the greatest gift. He has revealed his divinity and his plan of salvation. We are truly sanctified. Christmas has made our personal salvation possible. He has given us his holy Church, a committed and knowledgeable clergy, and religious brothers and sisters who pray for us unceasingly. He has given us the possibility of living with him after death in the Kingdom of Heaven. He has given us the greatest gift of all—eternal life.
Christmas as a family celebration is, of course, also important. Even for those who are not believers, the Christmas meal brings people together. One can be with loved ones and exchange gifts as a sign of appreciation and perhaps of love. Christmas decorations, especially the tree, are signs of celebration and ancient traditions. Children learn to prepare traditional Christmas dishes such as rice porridge with an almond, lutefisk with white sauce, blood sausage, and Christmas ham. These dishes were already enjoyed in pre-Christian times in the Nordic countries, including among the Vikings, as described in Bengtsson’s The Long Ships. Celebrating Christmas in this way at least creates a sense of community. The next day, one may travel to Lapland to ski or head south for a sun holiday—perhaps to play golf. Christmas then has no deeper religious meaning, and one adopts Coca-Cola’s colourful Santa Claus and other American traditions and films. Christmas is reduced to a consumption-driven family event.
Finally, for many people Christmas is merely a few extra days off. One rests, watches television, perhaps attends a concert or watches films on streaming services. Time is spent much like during any long weekend. Christmas then has no deeper meaning, either as a religious feast or as a family celebration.
The mystery of Christmas is described in Scripture as follows:
Matthew writes (Matt. 1:23, NRSV-CE):
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”
Luke writes (Luke 2:1–14, NRSV-CE):
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.
…
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
…
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Have a blessed and joyful Christmas
Jan-Peter Paul