I hate that the focus of Christmas has moved from celebrating Christ - his birth, his life, his teachings, his love and his sacrifice, to commercialism and consumerism - I hate it.
Ever since I was very young my family began a tradition of having a Jerusalem supper on Christmas eve - this has become my favorite Christmas tradition. I love this tradition because it helps put the Christ back into Christmas for me.
For our supper we try to eat foods that Mary and Joseph may have eaten. Our menu tonight will include roasted chicken, grapes, dates, figs, pomegranates, pineapple, cheeses, and olives. We eat our supper by oil lamplight (but candles work too.) I love the simplicity of the dinner, and the reverent mood created by the lamps.
After dinner, we read and act out the nativity. We are excited to have two friends joining us tonight, and so we will have more people to play different parts, and then we watch the movie "The Lamb of God."
In a new twist this year, the girls have asked to go caroling prior to our supper.
I'm excited to spend this special evening with them and can't wait!
1 comment:
We have also addapted a Jeruselem dinner. We go to mom's and she has the house lit with candles. We eat a meal out of a muslin bag. It has cheese, grape juice, jerky, crackers (unlevened bread), olives, dates, figs or raisins, stuff like that. The simplicity of it is so calming and takes you to a place that feels like you could be in Mary and Joseph's home, sharing a meal with them. After we eat we read different parts of the story integrated with songs appropriate to the scene being read. It really helps me remember the true meaning of Christmas.
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