ADVENT 2 (Angelic Host): A Worldwide Phenomenon

We have entered the Advent season, and the first day of Advent coincided with the first day of the month of December yesterday.  Here on The Meeting House, we will walk together through this year's Advent Guide, devoted to the "Symbols of Christmas."

Yesterday's symbol was the manger: we are told in Luke 2:7 that Mary "...brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger…”  Two verses later, we are told of a dramatic announcement by the angelic host; Luke 2:9 states, “...an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” So, an angel or angels become symbolic of the celebration of Christmas - in fact, there are several instances of angelic activity around the time of our Savior's birth.

A few years back, our Advent Guide was devoted to Christmas traditions around the world - I was reminded of that as I came across a piece at the Higher Ground Times website, which documented some Christmas celebrations around the world.

For instance, the article mentioned a tradition in the capital city of Venezuela, Caracas, where citizens go to church via roller skating on Christmas morning.  Regarding our neighbor to the south, Mexico, the article says:

The festivities kick off in early December with Las Posadas, a procession that tells the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. In addition, the city of Oaxaca hosts The Night of the Radishes, where the locals carve the Nativity Scene into large radishes to be displayed in the Christmas market. Finally, the country is known for its Christmas piñatas, which are shaped like a seven-point star, representing the seven deadly sins. The breaking of the piñata shows how faith in Christ wipes out those sins.

In New Zealand, there are Christmas trees, but not in the way you might think. The article notes: "So while New Zealand isn’t exactly known for its fir trees, the locals make up for it by decorating pōhutukawa trees. These coastal evergreen trees have large branches and bright red flowers. In fact, much like a poinsettia, New Zealanders use branches of the pōhutukawa trees to decorate their homes and churches during the Christmas season."

Food, of course, is a key element in some countries, with an hours-long celebration in Poland that doesn't begin until the appearance of the first star in the sky.  In Ukraine, a 12-course dinner honors the 12 apostles.

The Swiss celebrate Advent using Advent calendars, many of them homemade. The article also notes: 

Another Christmas tradition around the world can be found in African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo. In many of these nations, Christmas Day kicks off with caroling before families return home to prepare their love offerings. The love offering is a gift that each family gives to Jesus at the evening church service. Many churchgoers even share a meal together afterward.

Higher Ground Times also mentions Christmas traditions from China and Russia. 

No doubt, Christmas is a worldwide phenomenon.  And, that can relate to the idea that Jesus came for the entire world.  God sent His Son to die for us, and we are involved in a tremendous worldwide movement that has stood the test of time and is continuing to be impactful today, because the living Savior is continuing to save souls.

Some of these traditions are more secular in nature, but still can represent a visible manifestation of what our Savior did for us.  There's a certain feeling in the air, and I believe that it's a testimony to the presence and love of our Lord. When we think about the manger, we can consider that Jesus came to earth as a baby, a human who was divinely conceived, who entered into our realm so that He could bring us into His - the separation between humanity and God that existed at His birth has been taken away by the cross.  That's good news!  And, the angelic host, to us, can represent the messengers who proclaimed this event that changed human history.  We can celebrate the transformative nature of God, who penetrates our hearts and gives us new life.