今アメリカにクリスマス時期を祝います。

でもクリスマス時期ありません。

Advent時期です。

Adventのいみはラテン語で「とうちゃくする」です。

クリスマスの四週間前にAdvent時期です。

Advent時期は時にクリスマスのじゅんびします。

Generally Speaking

In America, we are celebrating the Christmas season. But, traditionally, this is not the Christmas season. It is the season of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin word "arrival". The four weeks before Christmas is the Advent season. Advent is the time to prepare for Christmas.

質問とコメント

1. Although America prides itself on the separation of Church and State, in reality, it is a Christian country and it is basically Protestant. Where I live, in the South, the most prevalent religion is Southern Baptist. So as a Catholic, my view is in the minority.

2. In the Catholic church, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It is a period of prayer and fasting, a time of preparation. This follows the pre-Christian celebrations of the solstice. In the weeks before the solstice, the days grew colder and darker. It was a period of want. After the solstice, as the days grow longer. we celebrate the return of the sun and the coming of spring.

3. When I was growing up, in the 1960s, the beginning of the Christmas season in America was the Friday after Thanksgiving. The stores began playing Christmas music and putting out decorations. Commercials for Christmas gifts flooded the newspapers and television. This timing was parallel to Advent and seemed appropriate to me. Over the years, this commercial aspect of Christmas begins earlier and earlier. I used to be surprised when I'd see Christmas items for sale directly after Halloween (October 31st). Now some stores put out Christmas items in September!

4. No wonder that by December 26th, Americans are so sick of Christmas that they toss out the Christmas tree and take down the lights. I celebrate Christmas my own way--which I will share with you throughout this month.