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Date: 13 December 2006 18:02:19
Since I have been locked away in college since September (well it is starting to feel like it), have not been into a large shopping area since mid November and watch most of my tv programmes on video since I am never in at the right time (and so miss the adverts), the material nature of most preparations for Christmas have mostly passed me by.
It was an absolute joy to be in the first advent service, singing O come O come Emmanuel for the first time and not be heartily sick of Christmas.
The trouble with academic terms is that if you want to celebrate Christmas within the community, you have to do it early. Schools and universties therefore start rehearsing for Christmas ludicrously early, although the result is probably all the better for it.
There is the memory of me as a small child begging Mum to let me start practicing Christmas Carols as soon as the Autumn term started (we were banned until half term). I do love Carols and expect the next week or two to be full of them, but I am glad not to have been singing them since before advent.
Christmas is not fully here until that glorious seventh verse of O come all ye faithful on Christmas morning and I am looking forward to celebrating the mysteries of the Incarnation over the full 12 days of the feast (essays permitting).
Happy Advent everyone. May your anticipation be worthwhile and rewarded with the joy of Christmas.