Can you believe it is already advent. In telly talk that is the season to announce the Christmas TV schedules, for shoppers it is the 4th wave of Christmas offers (the first starting in September) and for the church it is advent, marking the lead up to the birth of Christ and with plenty of emphasis of light coming into our darkened world and lots of candles being lit. The Dunbar illuminations were switched on tonight and I felt sorry for the new priest in charge of the Episcopal church who was asked to deliver a short message to the crowds who were not listening. All they wanted was lights and Gladys Chucklebutty the kids entertainer. She talked about light (the priest not Gladys) and did well to persevere. 'What is she on about?" was the conversation between 2 slightly irate women stood sheltering in a doorway by me, hiding from the strong winds and rain. It beggars belief that people don't know and that they find reminders so annoying.
Last Sunday I joined a load of other volunteers to put up the Christmas lights. It is one of those community activities that I have come to enjoy in a town where people pull together. There was a sense of pride in seeing the nativity scene and the 2 Santa heads all lighting up tonight as they were the ones I worked on. I also got a picture of it and managed for the second year in a row to get it on the BBC news page (see screen grab photo). The best bit part of helping out is free rolls at the Central Cafe. I was settling for 2 but the Lifeboat crew who were also helping forced me to eat another black pudding roll.
So Christmas is very near and so I can get my money's worth out of them I will probably stick up my own lights this week and turn our nice street all tacky and glittery. Nice of the BBC to mark advent with the Christmas special of the Royale Family. I think I will watch that tomorrow and see what the kids think about that humour.
Photos: The 2 Santa heads outside Peter Whitecroft's the family butchers.
2 comments:
The Christmas lights must have gone to your head - Advent is about the return of Jesus, not his birth
Well it really depends on where you want to place the emphasis and what tradition tickles your fancy. It is a dual purpose celebration where it can mark the first arrival of Christ or, as you say, mark his return. The problem with advent calenders for the latter is that nobody know when and where it is going to be, and as it is described as a 'thief in the night', breaking open windows to see what goodies lie behind them might add a different meaning to advent.
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