Update: http://raisinglittlesaints.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-colossal-set-of-resources-for-advent.html What a great homeschooling FSSP promoting Catholic mom’s blog! Totally cool!
The screen shot of the results to the now closed poll from last year indicate a lingering question regarding the pastoral advisability of Christmas parties during Advent. My contention was and is that this is jumping the gun, destroying the stressed expectation of the Redeemer felt by the those who were religiously oppressed just before the coming of our Lord and Savior, the sense of which is hard to get when we celebrate Christmas in Advent. The liturgical cycle and the readings for Advent are rich with the spiritual angst we should always be able to appreciate even in the best of times, but express outwardly during such appropriate times as Advent. Doing something with our bodies goes a long way in demonstrating where we are in spirit.
Last year at this time I wrote about this. Clicking on that link will bring you not only the article, but also the rather lively comments in the comments box. Yikes!
This year, another poll, with a difference. The very Catholic Bishop of the great Diocese of Charlotte, the Most Rev. Peter Joseph Jugis, is having not a Christmas Party, but rather an Advent Dinner for his priests. Totally cool. Fraternity without destroying eager expectation. There are ways to do this. We only need use our Catholic imaginations as spurred on by our Catholic identities, no? Am I wrong? Even already advertised programs could be adjusted for a surprise encounter with tradition, no? Am I wrong? Here’s the poll. Choose your answer and provide, if you would, an explanation or suggestion in the comments box.
Also, let us know what is happening in your parishes, with your scout troops, with your offices and businesses.
No need to be defensive about what is going on anywhere at the moment. Be of good cheer! Be of good heart! It takes time to nudge a culture to express better its would-be deepest identity if it be enthusiastically Catholic.
If you do vote in the negative, tell us why!
Nota bene: The poll mechanism is set to block repeat voters by cookie and IP address, meaning that you can only vote once. However, some browsers or browser settings wont permit you to vote at all. Leave a comment instead.
Nota bene: I can’t see who you are in your voting. Polldaddy is completely anonymous.
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
In some of the parishes of Austria there is a practice of celebrating Mass on at least one Sunday of Advent if not all, early around 5.30 A,M,. Some chapels there is no heating system. And after the Mass the faithful join together for a common breakfast.
I voted no, because how is it any different to call a party by a different name? It’s still just a party, and the same things are happening regardless of what you call it.
Hello Janet: Not at all! For instance, in Advent, skip coca-cola style Santas, red-nosed reindeer, any snowman called Frosty, presents, singing the twelve days of Christmas, etc. Instead, do something involving the super rich “O antiphons” (e.g.: “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…) or something involving the historically gargantuan figure of Saint John the Baptist, that voice of preparation crying in the desert, or something involving the expectation of a Redeemer among so many, thus, something involving the wise men coming from afar, but not yet arrived, or, something about the incredible drama of Mary knowing all these things about how she came to be with child, but Joseph not knowing these things for so long.
Indeed, why not something with the real Saint Nick, that is, the canonized Bishop of Myra (also associated with Bari), who three three bags filled with gold into the house of a man having three daughters needed dowries which the man didn’t have, and so was intent, then and there, to sell them into prostitution. You have to know that we have an awesome tradition, full of reality and life, and that this is good to emphasize.
We generally do not have any major social gatherings, either in the parish, or in our home. We do aim to mark the season: a celebration on St. Nicholas Day, another on Immaculate Conception.
We usually put our tree up, after cutting it fresh at a tree farm, around St. Lucy’s Day and trim it with a small party on Gaudete Sunday.
In addition to singing Advent carols and not playing Christmas music (which I tend to play year round except in Advent and Lent), we recite or sing the Alma Redemptoris mater. I add the O Antiphons to our blessing at table since sung Vespers is still a bit beyond the attention span of our five young children.
My employers insist on an annual Christmas Party sometime in the early days of Advent. They are not Catholics. I usually avoid the party but this year it was made abundantly clear that my presence is expected. So I’ll be going.
While I’m generally in favor of keeping Advent a low-key season that maintains its focus, one should not go so far as to make oneself miserable. It’s joyful anticipation. It’s joyful preparation. And it’s as much about commemoration of the Lord’s first coming as it is anticipation and preparation for His Second Coming.
Flambeaux: Exactly.
Great name, by the way. Of Father Brown fame, I’m sure.
Regarding my handle, Father, originally it was not an homage to Father Brown. I had never read the Fr. Brown stories when I started using Flambeaux.
Once upon a time I was a professional theatrical lighting designer and, since I came originally from New Orleans, I chose a handle that united those two facets of my life.
How Providential, as repeated inquiries about Chesterton’s detective’s friend led me to read the stories and I am a better person for having done so.
I’ve been using the handle for a decade now. I really enjoy your blog, Father. Thank you. I found you through FrZ and, through you, have become aware of the plight of Fr. MacRae. More priests for whom to pray reminds me not to wallow in self-pity when life doesn’t go the way I want it to.
I’m not Catholic, but I attend and am a member of a liturgical protestant church. While we don’t follow advent strictly, and I grew up not really separating advent and Christmas, I do try to distinguish them now. I don’t like having Christmas parties before Christmas, but advent get-togethers are fine, as are many other get togethers during the liturgical year. Christian community is so important, and we should never neglect to gather together. I’m just not sure we can truly celebrate any Christian season unless it is done in community.
Jeremy: exactly. I love your discernment.