Our next few posts will remind us that, for Christians, the Christmas season is only just beginning! We have Twelve Days, until Epiphany on January 6 (which will be officially celebrated in the US on Sunday, January 3). And I think we might want to prolong the season, as people did in the Middle Ages, until the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord (or Candlemas) on February 2. Shall we do the loo-o-oong Christmas season?
In any case, we are just getting rolling!
Thinking food-wise: let’s not just dish out to our families leftover turkey and other tired erstwhile-treats. Let’s continue to serve them tasty dishes, and to celebrate all the highlights of this great season.
Today--the 26th--is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr (for thoughts on celebrating his feast day with traditional food, please see A Continual Feast, p. 156).
And thinking of Stephen: here is the close to a sermon preached early in the 6th century on the Feast of St. Stephen by Bishop (and saint) Fulgentius of Ruspe in North Africa. Fulgentius' focus is on the power of love--that of Christ, that of Stephen, that of Paul, who, after participating in the killing of Stephen, became a Christian with the help of Stephen's loving forgiveness and prayers.
"My brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your progress in it, make your ascent together."
A great quotation, I think--for families in particular! (It comes from the Breviary--The Liturgy of the Hours: Advent Season, Christmas Season, p. 1257).
We will post shortly on the Feast of the Holy Family. This year it falls on December 27 and therefore takes precedence over the beautiful Feast of St. John Apostle and Evangelist whose feast is that day--and whom we will also remember: A Continual Feast, p.157.
On December 28, let’s not forget the Holy Innocents! See thoughts on them--and the red foods eaten in memory of these tiny martyrs--in A Continual Feast, on p. 158.
And we will post on the Feast of St. Sylvester, December 31.
And then we start on the New Year!
Funny: on the Feast of St Sylvester and on New Year in this part of the world no poultry is eaten, for it would bring bad luck. Pork is preferred.
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