On the Eve of Christmas

Well, I suppose I ought to back up a bit. Advent, being a time of preparation for birth of Christ, really was quite occupied with all of those things currently associated with preparing for Christmas. There were lots of choir rehearsals, present shopping, baking, a few crafts, and subdued decorating that went on the past three weeks. It was a short Advent, so things seems a bit condensed, and, well honestly, I really could have used that fourth week of Advent. Nonetheless, ready we are to celebrate the twelve glorious days of Christmas and, as a real bonus, this year the local school district adopted a schedule that allows the Professor to have all of those days off.

On December 16, the Prof took Three Older Children out to the Christmas Tree farm to hunt for a perfect tree and they were successful. We decorated it sparingly with pink and purple lights and a shiny purple bow with ribbons streaming down on all sides. Saturday the 23rd, at long last, the purple ribbon was stripped from the tree and replaced by the festive Christmas decorations. The previous day the children had strung some popcorn for our little studio tree in the window, adding a cheerful, old-fashioned touch to the modest nylon sprigs. And this year, we had a few new ornaments as well as a honeysuckle garland to bedeck the big tree.

Christmas Eve day was one of barely contained excitement. I could sense the children's energy was ready to burst, so we concentrated on some last picking up and readying ourselves for the afternoon Mass. We enjoyed a lovely lunch of smoked salmon and spinach dip on challah rolls and fried basil-garlic polenta topped with parmesan cheese and tomato sauce. Following an overwhelming week of hosting studio soirees and last minute preparations, I had decided that our Christmas fare was going to be very good, but very simple.

Sunday evening after we attended Mass, the Professor had to return to his professional post to play for a Christmas Eve service. Upon his return, we imagined the "night was half spent" and imposed a symbolic "midnight" upon our festivities; naturally, the children were more than willing to await the strike of twelve, but the parents truly were more than half spent. Thus at around nine o'clock, we read the wonderful Nativity story from the book of Luke and Rosebud drew a lovely little Jesus in the manger on the stable scene we had been drawing throughout Advent.

We proceeded by reading the proclamation that traditionally begins Christmas:



The Eighth of the Calends of January
Octavo Kalendas Januarii
The year from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created heaven and earth, five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine:
From the deluge, the year two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven:
From the birth of Abraham, the year two thousand and fifteen:
From Moses and the going out of the people of Israel from Egypt, the year one thousand five hundred and ten:
From David's being anointed king, the year one thousand and thirty-two:
In the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel:
In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad:
From the building of the city of Rome, the year seven hundred and fifty-two:
In the forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus:
The whole world being in peace:
In the sixth age of the world: Jesus Christ, the eternal God, and Son of the eternal Father, wishing to consecrate this world by his most merciful coming, being conceived of the Holy Ghost, and nine months since his conception having passed, In Bethlehem of Juda is born of the Virgin Mary, being made Man:

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE FLESH!
Almamater then read a psalm and at this, we sang Silent Night as the Professor accompanied the children to lay the little Baby Jesus in His manger. It was quite beautiful really in its small, domestic way.

Almamater read another Psalm and then, alternating verses, Sunshine and her mother recited the Christmas Carol by G.K. Chesterton.

The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,

His hair was like a light.

(O weary, weary were the world,

But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast

His hair was like a star.

(O stern and cunning are the kings,

But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,

His hair was like a fire.

(O weary, weary is the world,

But here the world's desire.)

The Christ-child stood on Mary's knee,

His hair was like a crown,

And all the flowers looked up at Him,

And all the stars looked down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inspite of all of the pleadings from the children to stay up until midnight so that they could find out if the chickens really talk at midnight on Christmas Eve, as the legends say, we went to bed, every last one. A blessed Christmas Eve, indeed.