Nancy, that's an excellent point! Christmas has become a very secular holiday in much of society. Next fall I hope to write an article addressing that.
Twelve days *before* Christmas? That would make sense to me if those days were marked by introspection and repentance. Instead, they've become characterized by a bacchanalia of materialism and greed, many actually going into serious debt to keep up with the expectations of family and friends. In my view, the commercial world cleverly grabbed the idea of "Twelve Days" to push a greater intensity of buying, buying, buying. Celebrating "Twelve Days" after Christmas Day itself means the incentive to shop is suddenly minimized, and the birth of Jesus and the mystery of the Incarnation can be truly celebrated.
Nancy, that's an excellent point! Christmas has become a very secular holiday in much of society. Next fall I hope to write an article addressing that.
Twelve days *before* Christmas? That would make sense to me if those days were marked by introspection and repentance. Instead, they've become characterized by a bacchanalia of materialism and greed, many actually going into serious debt to keep up with the expectations of family and friends. In my view, the commercial world cleverly grabbed the idea of "Twelve Days" to push a greater intensity of buying, buying, buying. Celebrating "Twelve Days" after Christmas Day itself means the incentive to shop is suddenly minimized, and the birth of Jesus and the mystery of the Incarnation can be truly celebrated.