Seasonal | Pilgrim's Perch

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas run from Christmas Day to the Epiphany, 6th January, the day on which the wise men arrived at the stable in search of the new born Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is a time of festivities and partying, taking in New Year celebrations and marking new beginnings. At a dark time of the year it is a time for lights, fireworks – and often, high jinks – as folk let their hair down and enjoy laughter, song and mirth. Harder to do, perhaps, this year as we have to observe social distancing and the restrictions that the current pandemic brings. But there have been many inventive ways in which people have shared fellowship, mirth and goodwill – even at a distance.

Person celebrating with fireworks — Festive fireworks to lighten the darkness

Of course, it’s also a time when folk take stock, looking back over the year that’s passed and thinking ahead to the new year just begun, with all its challenges, opportunities and excitement. Perhaps it’s new resolutions that might spur you on to do something different in your way of living – or maybe you want to take time to be thankful for many good things. However you spend this period, may it be a time of hope and optimism as we ring out the old and ring in the new.

Advent

This year Advent begins on 29th November. It is a time of waiting – expectation and preparation, not only for Christmas and the birth of Jesus our Saviour but also for the second coming of Jesus as king, judge and redeemer. Advent takes us into a period of reflection on what are called the four last things – death, judgement, heaven and hell. Sombre stuff – perhaps not your usual pre-Christmas focus. In these austere times, it might be nice to indulge in a little festive frivolity. But Advent provides – if we allow it to – the chance to reflect on how we prepare for the coming of the one who judges but also saves.

Light is a powerful and potent theme at this time of the year. As a student I loved the Advent carol service in the cathedral of the city where I studied. The service would begin in darkness ; then from the west end a single voice would break the silence with the opening lines of the Advent prose, ‘Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour forth righteousness; let the earth be fruitful and bring forth a Saviour.’ The choir, carrying candles, would proceed up the aisle to their places; as they progressed, the light would grow brighter until the whole cathedral was bathed in the warm light that only candles can provide.

Candles offer a warm, subtle light — The warm light of candles

The light comes so that the darkness can be removed. God comes into the world in human form so that sin can be driven away. Waiting for that light offers a time when we can reflect on how we need to let God’s grace work in our lives; allow his light to push the demons out so that his light can shine and there is simply no space for darkness.

In the cathedral mentioned earlier is the tomb of the venerable Bede. Above it are engraved the words:

‘Christ is the morning star, who when the night of this world is past, brings to his saints the promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day.’

– words that mirror Rev 22:16 at the end of the bible where Jesus says, ‘I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ Hope and light indeed.

Stars - wonders of the universe — Morning star – just one of the billions visible to us

Looking for the Light

November whirls in with wind, rain and a shortening of the days. A new lockdown has placed certain restrictions on us and that is hard for many of us. The season of remembrance has come and nearly gone – All Saints, All Souls, Remembrance Sunday.

Poppies against skycaps — Poppies for Remembrance

It has been hard, being denied the opportunity to remember and give thanks for all those who have given so much in the past. With the waning of the year and with less freedom our thoughts turn more introspective. We recall, we remember, we give thanks for all those who have been dear to us, who have influenced our lives and who have enabled us to continue living in this beautiful, peaceful country. We have our share of problems – but we have so much to value, too, and for which to be thankful.

Thomas Hardy wrote in The Return of the Native:

‘When the curfew is sounded throughout Nature a spontaneous Promethean rebelliousness rises up in us to light a fire against the darkness and chaos.’

Light is so important at this time of the year. The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, involves the lighting of clay lamps to ward off darkness and to signify the triumph of good over evil. Muslims have just celebrated the birth of the prophet Muhammad and the Jewish people celebrate the First Day of Hanukkah shortly – another celebration that involves the lighting of lamps. Through all these traditions runs the theme of light – light that shines in darkness and drives away bad things. War is remembered, but in a way that makes people yearn for an end to all wars. In 2000 a millennium prayer was formulated that might be used by people of all backgrounds and which is still so valid today:

‘Let there be respect for the earth, peace for its people, love in our lives, delight in the good, forgiveness for past wrong, and from now on, a new start.’