Posted by giveawayboy on December 26, 2002 at 01:05:24:
In the modern world of marketing and secularization of holy days, we might not realize that the seasons of All Hallows, Christmas and Easter are not one day events. In the case of All Hallow's we see Hall-O-we'en kicking off the great Feast of All Saints, followed by All Soul's Day (and the Day of the Dead celebrations in certain parts of Central and South America. ) The Easter Season begins w Palm Sunday, and contains Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter, which is a 50 day feast ending at Pentecost. Well, for those who follow the sacred year as opposed to the merely secular year, Christmas is no one day affair. First we have the Advent Season, which begins the first Sunday after the Feast of Christ the King, then, after the four weeks of Advent, we arrive at Christmas Day, which is December 25th, but here is where most people get off the bus. Actually, Christmas doesn't end here. The 25th is actually, only the beginning of a 12 Day feast which ends on January 6th. This day is usually known as Ephiphany and in many parts of the world it is also regarded as the Day to commemorate the arrival of the Magi to see Jesus, not on the night of his birth, but sometime after this, most likely within two years time. Just wanted to share that the Christmas Season is very much still upon us!
Also December 21st was the observance of Yule, which commemorates the Winter Solstice and the advent of Spring, so expect the days to grow longer now as we are ready to move into the spring of the year.