From a strictly religious point of view, should the season of advent be a joyous time?
I don’t know what it is like in other countries. But in the USA, it certainly is. It begins around Thanksgiving. And due to lack of snow, at least where I live, it can continue to St. Patrick’s Day (seriously).
But what is the religious view of this practice? And are we being irreligious when we do this?
FWIW, I am a semi-practicing RC, who believes in God and being good, but not much else. Yeah, and I once read this book by this British author. She says advent in England used to be somber. It was, in fact, a time (she said) when there was a tradition of giving lonely people presents, at this time (whatever that means). Then came Christmas, and its “12 Days”. That was the time to be joyous, she said.
So should devout Christians take offense when we make advent a joyous time?
There has long been that Puritan strain in Christianity, denying the right of people to have “joy” in a great number of ways and forms. No dancing, no drinking, no plays, no parties. The Puritan Christians were the ones who waged the real “War on Christmas.”
This sad and somber version of the faith is sterile, bitter, and quite hate-filled. It attracts the sort who would rather attack someone’s snowman (“Graven images!”) than celebrate a winter snowfall with such a playful sculpture.
Nothing is wrong with celebration! I know people who build up their little mantel-top crèche, adding one figure every evening, over the Advent period, until, at the last, they add Joseph, Mary, and the little cradle holding the baby Jesus. (In contrast to the story in the Bible, the Magi have already arrived and are anticipating the Nativity!)
Sing the carols! Give the gifts! Send out cards! Watch the familiar old TV specials!
And, yes, ideally, everyone would be jolly the whole doggone year long. But sufficient unto the day are the evils thereof…and the blessings also.
As UDS said, Advent should be joyous expectation. Christmas, of course, is joyous, and generally so is Epiphany. Lent, of course, is a downer. Easter’s joyous and then Pentecost just drags on forever throughout the summer and fall, marking time till late November or early December for Advent.
Besides, these days Christmas is basically one-and-done. Everything’s gotten moved into Advent for consumerism.
Joyful expectation is a good way to put it, but also a bit of a time for repentance. As we wait for the return of our Lord, while remembering His first appearance, we also think about the ways we could be helping prepare for His Kingdom. So its a bit of both (which I like).
Christmas and Epiphany are a bit more happy-happy-joy-joy.
In the Catholic tradition, the appropriate mood is indicated by the color of the priest’s vestments and the altar hangings. In general, Advent uses purple, representing penitence, humility, and somber reflection, as in Lent. The exception is Gaudete (“Rejoice”) Sunday, which uses rose colored vestments, symbolizing joy and rejoicing. Christmas time itself uses white, which represents joy and purity.
