arethinn: glowing green spiral (mysterious thoughtful (redwoods))
I have not been anything even approaching a (Catholic) Christian since I was 11 years old (when I did my own Masses in the back yard -- no, rly), but I still love Advent calendars. Pictures only, no chocolate, even. I've even troubled to make my own on a couple of occasions, I love them that much. My mother, who has similarly not been anything approaching Christian for years, appears to have finally cottoned on to the idea of buying secular ones, rather than ones which have Bible verses and reveal a baby Jesus on Christmas. (Yes, I know how ironic it is to say "secular Advent calendar" and complain about Jesus appearing in something so intimately connected to Christmas.)

Really, I should make a "Solstice Advent" kind of thingy. I mean, it's hard to argue with greenery and presents and warm cookies and candles and fires and eggnog and plum pudding and shiny ornaments and all. Who cares why? Not to belittle anything -- though I've done Solstice vigil on more than one occasion, the idea of Midnight Mass is still very attractive to me. It's that Pagan lust for fancy robes, pompous speechin' and candles, I tellya (not that I would dream of trying to take Communion; that's someone else's sacred mystery, not mine).

'Course, on that logic, there should be eggnog year-round.

...Who's with me?! ;)

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 04:40 am (UTC)From: [personal profile] enotsola
enotsola: (Default)
YAY EGGNOG!

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 07:03 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com
I have a Lindt advent calendar and I am an atheist (and was raised such). But I like the singing and the shiny robes! I think a longing for ritual is perfectly rational, you take it where it makes sense for you.

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 09:41 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com
You'll get no debates from me! I have always found religion fascinating but odd. I read a lot of Christian and some Islamic and Jewish texts when I was younger as a way of understanding more of the world (not enough Eastern religions as yet, ask me not about Shinto for the ignorance is embarrassing ...) and the differences between the text and the performance was always fascinating.

Your 11-year-old self sounds very cool. And very practical!

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 08:58 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] silussa.livejournal.com
stock up on the Borden canned eggnog right after Christmas, when it goes on sale; the shelf life makes it back to the season they make it again. :)

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 09:04 am (UTC)From: [personal profile] arcanetrivia
arcanetrivia: a light purple swirl on a darker purple background (Default)
Stock up on the what now? I have never seen what you appear to be talking about. Eggnog is exclusively a refrigerated product here.

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 01:28 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] silussa.livejournal.com
I suspect you can find cheaper, but as an example of what I'm referring to:

http://www.shopfoodex.com/borden-quart-p-1734.html

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 01:26 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] ninth-myth.livejournal.com
i bought myself saucepans last week and included a milk pan purely on the justification that "i will use it for eggnog". now i needs me a good recipe..

Date: Dec. 1st, 2007 01:40 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] hobgoblinn.livejournal.com
Wee Hob is definitely with you on the year round eggnog. Though I recently bought a quart and he drank it All At Once. I will leave the effect on his Wee Hobgoblinn metabolism and digentive system to your imagination....

I have been a working Church Musician most of my adult life, and I love this season too. I am not particularly devout (and working on the sidelines means I see a lot of things to make me more cynical than is good for me). But the music and the symbols of the season always reach me. no matter how many inappropriate jokes we're cracking in the wings....

Date: Dec. 3rd, 2007 07:54 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] blueeyesblazing.livejournal.com
Hate eggnog. I'll just put rum in my coffee, thanks.

As to the Advent wreath, you may actually be able to dredge up some Germanic tradition that relates to it. I don't know though. If I find one, I'll let you know by posting it in my journal. If you find one, I'd be very interested in a link or citation. Thanks.

Date: Dec. 3rd, 2007 08:32 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] blueeyesblazing.livejournal.com
Not quite sure what you are saying here.

Date: Dec. 3rd, 2007 08:39 am (UTC)From: [personal profile] arcanetrivia
arcanetrivia: a light purple swirl on a darker purple background (Default)
I'm asking which of these objects you are talking about, because this post mentioned the latter (calendar), but then you posted a comment about the former (wreath), and I just wondered if you were going off on a tangent, or were confused about what I was talking about in the first place.

Date: Dec. 3rd, 2007 08:49 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] blueeyesblazing.livejournal.com
Oh! My bad. OK. I was talking about the former, wreath.

Date: Dec. 3rd, 2007 05:51 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] heartssdesire.livejournal.com
Wow, I never heard of secular advent calendars. I think a Solstice one would be cool. You should do that. Because yeah, when I think about Christmas the consumer holiday I feel all cynical and want to puke, but when I think about the parts of Christmas that feel pagan-ish and just natural for a winter holiday, I really enjoy it. Hot drinks and bringing greenery in the house and candlelight and fire in the fireplace and warm rich food and things like that. And really, Solstice vigil kind of includes midnight mass, the way I celebrate it. I mean not so much with the communion eating-the-body-of-the-god thing, because I do more that sort of thing at Samhain, but the midnight ritual featuring the lighting of candles and singing in the darkest night. That kind of thing.

Profile

arethinn: glowing green spiral (Default)
Arethinn

July 2025

S M T W T F S
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20 212223242526
2728293031  

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Style Credit

Page generated Jul. 26th, 2025 07:21 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios