While we begin or finish our Christmas shopping, begin to at least buy a new decoration or two or get those cherished ornaments down from the attic, I am reminded of a great many traditions that friends and family have.
My favorite one has been hijacked in most places. I’m a huge fan of Midnight Mass. And I mean Mass AT Midnight. Not 10PM. Not 8PM. Not 4PM (heavens!). MID-NIGHT. It’s one of the most identifiable Catholic traditions in the world and I think we too easily dismiss this as inconvenient for us. Perhaps our priests are of the age where it’s a lot tougher to stay up that late much less, preside that late. But I always get sad when I see four or five families show up at 11:30PM for the carols before midnight only to be sent out into the street because the 10PM mass just finished. Mass on Christmas Day is a different experience but I love the Midnight experience.
I began to think about particular rituals but I wasn’t coming up with much from my family besides opening gifts.
What are your favorite rituals surrounding Christmas? Something particular that your family does during the Nativity? What might you enjoy or perhaps think about doing this coming year?