Friday, December 01, 2006

Friday Five, Adventually


Although it comes as late as it can this year, Advent is upon us. Some of us grew up observing it, while to others it was even more foreign than Lent!

Here are five questions about Advent for this first of December:


1) Do you observe Advent in your church?

I don't have a church home at present, but the last church I served observed Advent with a wreath and the appropriate liturgical colors. Music was a much, much harder sell-- generally, the folks wanted Carols from December 1 on... but I just couldn't bring myself to go along wholeheartedly. I included one carol week 2, one week 3, and 2 week four.

2) How about at home?

Yes: every year we break every conceivable fire regulation by getting a fresh balsam wreath that we put at the center of our dining room table, with four fat pillars in it. It is beautifully evocative of the season for me (and I promise, I never leave it unattended).

3) Do you have a favorite Advent text or hymn?

The "O" Antiphons, including "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Hate to sound like a broken record, but do check out the Sufjan Stevens version. Just beautiful-- spare and hard and invitational at the same time.

4) Why is one of the candles in the Advent wreath pink? (You may tell the truth, but I'll like your answer better if it's funny.)

Why, it's for the missed menstrual periods of pregnancy, of course. Sheesh! Doesn't everyone know that?

5) What's the funniest/kitschiest Advent calendar you've ever seen?

Hands down, "Precious Moments." No, wait!! One in which the holy family were depicted as TEDDY BEARS!!!!!! AAAUUURRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

12 comments:

Unknown said...

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, there are definitely going to be prizes for the pink answers!!!
And thanks for the Sufijan suggestion.

QuakerPastor said...

OK a bit more scientific on 4 than mine and I can go for that...Good answer>
I wonder if there's any extracanonical writings on this?

chartreuseova said...

#4 had me truly LOL!

I have heard that the orignal symbolism has been corrupted by some heretical midwives who teach that it represents the "show" of labor beginning.

Emily said...

Love #4 but more seriously, I love the O antiphons, although the way O Come Emmanuel is sung in most churches drives me to distraction.

Maria Tafoya said...

Precious Moments is bad enough, but a Teddy bear holy family? Ouch. :-)

revhipchick said...

wow! teddy bears as holy family! that's classic!

great answer for #4!

Anonymous said...

Love it! Love it!

will smama said...

Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

omgosh, the answer to #4 almost made me spit out my diet coke. roflol!

Sally said...

I love the pink answer!

btw O come O come Emmanuel is my fav advent hymn too

Peace and blessings

Unknown said...

LOL.
Like the Sufijan suggestion too!
Me too on the O Come O Come Emmanuel.

Hey is the Sufijan a cd or is there a link to it?

Magdalene6127 said...

RevAbi, and anyone else who's interested in Sufjan Stevens: here is a link to Asthmatic Kitty Records, his label. There you can see all the tracks on his Christmas cd (the version of O Come O Come Emmanuel that I love is on the first disc). In addition, there's a link to iTunes, where you can hear a smidgen of the song (about 30 seconds worth).

Blessings,

Mags