Many lose sight of Advent amid the Thanksgiving-Black Friday-anticipated Christmas-commercial season. How can Advent hold its ground against this materialistic intrusion? Some regard Advent as “Little Lent.” After all, at least where I live it wears the hand-me-down purples of the penitential weeks between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Perhaps Advent needs its own distinguishing color to express its unique role in the Liturgical Year?

What is Advent anyway? It might be considered the season of Isaiah and joyful Psalms; a time of expectation and reassurance to those who faithfully await the coming of the promised one; a tender season of resting in the arms of our loving mother. Advent emphasizes joy and anticipation, not fasting and penance.

Some Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic parishes employ blue vestments during Advent. The web page of Saint James Episcopal Church of Richmond, Virginia explains this choice:

“Following the tradition of the Sarum Rite (an old English rite), Blue is the color for Advent. During the Middle Ages, when blue was an expensive color to reproduce, purple was often used instead. This is why you still see some churches using purple in Advent. Also, purple was used by churches that followed the Roman rite as opposed to the Sarum Rite. Theologically, however, blue is the proper color for this season, because Blue is the color of the Blessed Virgin, and Advent is all about Mary as we await with her the arrival of the Incarnate God. Blue is the color of hope, expectation, confidence, and anticipation. These are all adjectives which describe the season of Advent.”

Indeed Advent has a Marian flavor. It includes the feast of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. It presupposes the cooperation of Mary in the incarnation and the nativity. So blue, a Marian color would fit the season.

Here in the North Temperate Zone, Advent coincides with the longest and darkest (and sometimes coldest) nights of the year. As darkness replaces light some humans suffer depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder). A sure cure for SAD is light, celebration, and a promise of better days. Again, dark blue skies connect with the theme of Advent. From those heavens comes the brightest and warmest of all gifts–the greatest reason to shed SAD in favor of JOY.

May the building joy of the Advent season culminate in your most glorious Christmas, ever!

RSVP

How do you separate the spirit of Advent from the Christmas rush?

In what special ways do you observe Advent’s joyous season of expectation?

Do you believe that the color (purple, blue or __________) of vestments’ would underscore Advent’s unique place in the Liturgical Calendar?

Text-(© 2013 Donald J. Mulcare)

Winter/alcohol ink on yupo(© 2013 Nancy Ann Mulcare)

 

A retired biologist with current interests in vegetable gardening, volunteering at a local nursing home, reading, and writing. Other activities include the study of the practical aspects of applied Gerontology, splitting logs, digging for quahogs and writing blogs. https://dmulcare.wordpress.com/

4 Replies to “I’m Dreaming of a Blue Advent”

  1. How would the cats react to battery operated candles?

    How about shifting the celebrations to Advent themes that bring joy based on God’s deepening presence in our lives rather than on the emphasis placed by most people on commercial success or bargain hunting?

    Wishing you a Joyful Advent and a Spectacular Christmas-Epiphany!

  2. Advent is a wonderful excuse to say ‘NO’ to celebrations of ‘the Holidays’ in early Advent or before Advent begins. I don’t do much about Advent at home— I live alone except for my cats, who would just cause too much trouble if I did the Advent candle thing. But I love seeing the little Advent candles in the corner of the screen on EWTN every day to remind me daily where we are in the Advent journey.

  3. Hi Barbara,

    Your parish priest makes a wonderful point. I’ll mention it to mine. Fr. Gomes has spent 30 years in the Bahama missions. Someone has to do it. In all that time, Advent Blue reigned. When he returned to this diocese, via time machine, he couldn’t believe the passion for purple.

    The Advent daily Mass readings certainly set a wonderful tone distinct from ordinary time and Lent. It would help for more people to enjoy their spirit.

    I wonder if even the pagans would tolerate the commercialism at Yuletide?

    Wishing you a Joyful Advent and Glorious Christmas-Epiphany.

    God bless,

    Don

  4. Well said! Something in me dreads the coming of the shorter, darker days of winter. One year our parish priest made the point that as the days become darker and shorter in December, our Advent wreaths grow brighter and brighter as we add a candle each week. That gave me such hope and helps me every year.

    I separate the spirit of Advent from the Christmas rush in two ways. Mentally, I remind myself that Christmas celebrations originated to counter a pagan holiday, so I just figure the pagans are taking it back, and their choice of celebration doesn’t have a bearing on mine. On a practical level, I am at a point in my life–maybe it’s old age–where I long for simplicity. The simpler I keep Christmas, the less I am caught up in or impacted by the frantic activity that goes on.

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