The artful Advent

By Jenna Smith and ChristianWeek | December 15, 2008

My neighborhood is, well, particular around Christmas time. Verdun has one of the poorest urban communities in Canada, but apparently having limited means doesn't hinder excessive (and I mean excessive) Christmas decorating. It's as if Las Vegas and Santa's Workshop somehow collided and crashed in my backyard.

You name it, we've got it: flashing neon lights covering every inch of visible wall, inflatable electricity-guzzling snowmen and angels, mechanical reindeer bobbing their heads up and down, synthetic gold wreaths that have seen a few too many winters.

Even the local Roman Catholic parish made quite an impression a few years ago when its decorations committee thought it might be quaint to have a dozen or so stuffed Santa Clauses hanging from the trees in the courtyard. It was horrific.

Don't get me wrong; I do appreciate the comic relief of this season. But I often find myself on a quest for some real yuletide artistry, if only to remember that the incarnation is God's ultimate act of art. And so I turn to Advent.

I have often thought that Advent is the most artistic of liturgical seasons because it demands the participation of our entire being, body and soul.

Other liturgical events do too, but Advent pulls in our visual sense and our imagination through song, sight and symbol as we anticipate the birth of Christ. Without beauty, Advent would be lacking.

Consider the significance of the Advent wreath. The shape of the wreath–the circle–represents God who, like the circle, knows no beginning and no end, but is eternal. The evergreens, ever alive, remind us of Christ who died, lives and will never die again. He is the evergreen. If you are a staunch Advent observer, your wreath should have red holly berries on it, a reminder of the drops of blood Christ shed for us.

There are five candles, four for Advent Sundays and one for Christmas day. The candles are typically violet, for penance, and rose, the colour of hope and joy. Sometimes the candles are replaced by white ones on Christmas day to represent Christ's light and purity.

If you want to explore the Season of anticipation through poetry and art or simply enrich your coffee table book collection, here are two of my favorites:

God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas (Paraclete Press) edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe.

Beeyootiful. This book contains paintings spanning eight centuries, prayers, scripture readings and daily meditations for the entire advent and epiphany season. It's a wonderful work of art, as much for its stunning presentation as its beautiful words. If you are looking to feed your soul during December, this is a great way to go.

O Come Emmanuel: A Musical Tour of Daily Readings for Advent and Christmas (Paraclete Press) by Gordon Giles.

Another hit by Paraclete Press. This is an original collection of daily advent devotions centered around Christmas hymns, both ancient and new (too bad it doesn't come with the CD). It is packed with Scripture readings, song lyrics and food for thought. Online you can download, free of charge, a study guide for family devotionals and for choir rehearsals.