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Inquiring Minds Want to Know - Christmas Season
From: information found in The United Methodist Book of Worship Copyright 1992, The United Methodist Publishing House, Ninth Printing, August 1999

Advent
“Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means "coming." The season proclaims the comings of the Christ - whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate. Each year, Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for these comings; historically, the season was marked by fasts for preparation.

Each Sunday of Advent has its distinctive theme: Christ's coming in final victory (First Sunday), John the Baptist (Second and Third Sundays), and the events immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ (Fourth Sunday).” (p. 238) “Use purple or blue paraments, stoles, and banners. Visuals of the season may include an Advent wreath (an evergreen wreath with four purple candles and a central white Christ candle added on Christmas Eve/Day), evergreen wreaths and branches, a Chrismon tree (an evergreen tree covered with white monograms of Christ), and a Jesse tree (a tree with signs of the ancestors of Christ). Other symbols include trumpets for Isaiah, messianic rose, star of Jacob, and fleur-de-lis.” (p. 238)

Hanging of the Greens
“This service may take place at any time during Advent.” (p. 257)

*God will send a righteous King in Jeremiah 23:5-6
“In ancient times the cedar was revered as the tree of royalty. It also signifies immortality and was used for purification. We place this cedar branch as a sign of Christ, who reigns as King for ever, and who’s coming, in justice and righteousness, will purify our hearts.” (p. 259) *The prophet declares a child will be born in Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

“Because the needles of pine and fir trees appear not to die each season, the ancients saw them as signs of things that last forever. Isaiah tells us that there will be no end to the reign of the Messiah. Therefore, we hang this wreath of evergreens shaped in a circle, which itself has no end, to signify the eternal reign of Jesus, the Christ.” (p. 259)

*The fourth servant song from Isaiah 53:1-6 “For Christians, this passage from Isaiah reflects the sufferings of Jesus, who saved us from our sins by his death on the cross, and by his resurrection from the dead. In ancient times, holly and ivy were considered signs of Christ's passion. Their prickly leaves suggested the crown of thorns, the red berries the blood of the Savior, and the bitter bark the drink offered to Jesus on the cross. As we hang the holly and ivy, let us rejoice in the coming of Jesus, our Savior.” (p. 259)

*The mystery of the incarnation found in John 1:1- 5, 9-14 “As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World, we light the Christmas (Chrismon) tree. During this Advent, wherever you see a lighted Christmas tree, let it call to mind the One who brings light to our darkness, healing to our brokenness, and peace to all who receive him.” (p. 259-260)

Blessing of the Chrismon Tree
“The Chrismon tree, a sign begun in the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, Virginia, has now spread to many other congregations. This evergreen tree is covered with signs of Christ, such as stars. Many congregations save the Chrismon tree trunk to make a cross for Lent.” (p. 260)

Blessing of the Advent Wreath
“The Advent wreath is a simple circle of evergreen branches, a sign of life without end; its four Advent candles encircle a central white Christ candle. Some traditions use the color rose on the Third Sunday of Advent and for this reason use three purple candles and one rose candle. United Methodists, however, encourage purple for the whole season of Advent and therefore use four purple candles." (p. 260)

Lighting of the Advent Candles
“Each Sunday of Advent may include the lighting of the Advent candles by an appointed family or person, usually during the Entrance. Each Sunday one additional candle is lighted until all four are lighted. Finally, on Christmas Eve and Day, the middle white candle is lighted. A nativity scene replaces the Advent wreath after Christmas Day...” (P. 262)
First Sunday- Christ our Hope- Isaiah 60:2-3
Second Sunday - Christ the Way - Mark 1:4
Third Sunday - Christ our Joy - Isaiah 35:10
Fourth Sunday-Prince of Peace- Isaiah 9:6-7
(p. 262-263)

Las Posadas (Service of Shelter for the Holy Family
“In the Hispanic tradition of Latin American countries, especially in Mexico, one of the oldest celebrations is Las Posadas. It was created by the Augustinian, Father Diego de Soria, around 1587 to introduce Christianity to the New World, and now it is revised by United Methodists Carlos Avendano, Raguel M. Martinez, and Roberto Escamilla. This celebration takes place during Advent, from December 16 through December 23, with a special service on December 24. It is a preparation for, and anticipation of, the birth of the Savior, commemorating the nine months when Mary carried the infant Jesus in her womb and emphasizing his coming again and the need of all persons for repentance and God's mercy. Las Posadas is a Christian, biblical, and evangelistic service out of the Hispanic culture.”

“Well ahead of time, eight homes of church members are chosen in different areas for the eight nights prior to Christmas Eve. These homes should be willing to have a house party, including a piñata to be broken by a child. The piñata represents the devil, which cannot be recognized, and therefore the child is blindfolded. The child is fighting against evil with the rod of virtue, symbolized in the stick provided to break the piñata. When the child perseveres to the end, the glory of God will come down on everyone, as shown by the candy hidden within the piñata...”
“On the appointed day, people meet at the corner near the home to be visited. In small communities this procession of pilgrims would walk from one home to another, but in large communities it could be a car caravan. Traditionally, persons carry lighted candles and sing as they walk. In the lead may be Mary, seated on a donkey, with Joseph. Children, possibly dressed as shepherds and the magi, accompany the procession. Then, in procession, the people approach the darkened house and proceed with the ...service.” (p.266)

Christmas Season
“Christmas is a season of praise and thanksgiving for the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, which begins with Christmas Eve or Day and continues through the Day of Epiphany. The name Christmas comes from the season's first service, the Christ Mass. Epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphania, which means 'manifestation.' New Year's Eve or Day is often celebrated in the United Methodist tradition with a Covenant Renewal Service...”

“Use the colors of white and gold and materials of the finest texture for paraments, stoles, and banners. Signs of the season include a Chrismon tree, a nativity scene (including the magi on the Day of Epiphany), a Christmas star, angels, poinsettias, and roses. Gold, frankincense, myrrh, and three crowns are appropriate on the Day of Epiphany.” (p. 269)

“A nativity scene, including the holy family, animals, shepherds, and angels, may be placed before the congregation. An empty manger may be used during Advent. On Christmas Eve or Day, the infant is added to the scene. The magi may be added on the Day of Epiphany.” (p. 280)

Epiphany of the Lord
"The Epiphany (Manifestation) of the Lord..., an even more ancient celebration among Christians than Christmas, originally focused on the nativity, incarnation, and baptism of Christ. Today we celebrate the coming of the three wise men (magi), who brought gifts to the Christ child. For this reason, in Puerto Rico and in most Latin American Countries this day is observed as Three Kings Day or Dia de Los Reyes. It marks the end of the Christmas Cycle, which began the First Sunday of Advent.”

“The Latino culture has preserved and developed this ancient celebration in a way that is a great gift to the whole Church. Within the church service, this day is celebrated with plays and special songs emphasizing the coming of the kings and their gifts for the Christ child. In the home the children are told to place boxes filled with hay under their beds so that the camels will eat the hay and the kings leave presents for the children.” (p. 295)