Christmastide

It's been another Christmas and thankfully we could sail though safely for another year . God with us- Emmanuel, how much awe His presence in our lives  over the year.

  This year Christmas day was at home . All the gifts were opened after the H mass. Christingle decorated for the centre piece.Red ribbon around orange shows God 's love that encircle us. Candle lit represents  Jesus the light of the world. Sweets and dry fruits symbolises all of the creation

   Roast dinner ready 

The gifts opened and the excitements over after the adventure of unwrapping  finished.

On boxing day we were with friends together. 

Ginger bread house decorated by Thomas family .

Performed a nativity play with Carols. All children did great and had a beautiful day in Thomas new house. 

Winter Solstice and Rising Dawn

It was winter solstice yesterday in UK- December 21st. The days have been shorter and nights were longer for the past 6 months. Shortest day of the year and UK experienced nearly 7 hours  and 49 minutes of daylight.

  

      Latin wold 'Solstitium' means sun  stopping or sun stand still. Winter Solstice is a moment of pause before  the returning of light. 

      The Antiphon yesterday also coincide with it- title of Jesús as rising Dawn/ Orient/ Dayspring ,  reminds us of Christmas and Christ who gives hope to anyone who feel their world has plunged into  darkness All of us   endured short winter days, often with sun obscured by clouds over, long nights , can get the metaphor quickly . Some time to look for light. ...get the spirits up.Come and Enlighten us Lord...

   Be gentle with ourselves ,  all of us have been through  so  much. Have hope.

The hymn goes like this  'O come thou dayspring from on high, And cheer us by thy drawing nigh..dispeese the gloomy clouds of night..'

  We went  to see lights as a family and put our  Christmas lights too.

          From last year  memories

St Lucia

It was the week with Feast of St Lucy during advent..on 13th December.  Lot of traditions of St Lucy revolves around swedish tradition.

     St Lucy was a virgin and martyr ,who often portrayed with eyes carried in a tray. She was tortured as being a Christian, torn out her eyes. However the biggest mirace was she was able to see .

    She used to visit imprisoned, brought blankets and food to them. Both arms were kept free to carry as many supplies as possible. So she wore a wreath around head with candles, like head lights of now a days to walk through dark underground prisons. That is the tradition to carry candle on feast.

    So many beautiful traditions esp. Swedish...are there. Eldest girls bake or give breakfast of saffron buns( called lussekatter) and boys dressed up as star boys.... Like St Lucy may we be  light to many others. 

        St Lucy buns

               Our Star boy

     Happy Feast of St Lucy

A few other activities this week was visiting a home with do many residents and sung Carol sings for them as part of St Mary's warrington.

        Net day , as a family we decorated  our parish little bit. ...putting up little banners.

Advent saints

Advent is a time of preparing and getting ready for the coming of the Lord in two ways;  one is the birth of the Lord and the second coming of the Lord.

     During this season, some of the saints are specially remembered and celebrated.  One of the main feast is on 6th of December was of St Nicholas. At home, it is a day of excitement for children. Little ones put out the shoes in the mantle getting some presents from St Nicholas. This time kids wrote a letter to baby Jesus and left in the shoe. 

    The story of St Nicholas always an inspiring story for kids, to encourage and share the essence of Christmas. When we think of  GIVING, so often we think of money, but to inspired to share whatever talents we possess.

           One of the important person nevertheless to be forgotten is Mary , who said YES to God made redemption possible.  Today is the Solemnity of Immaculate conception.  Mary  conceived without stains of original sin, prepared mother of God so wonderfully and beautifully .Some of the highlights of the day.

   

Geo is  getting ready with flowers for Our Lady.

Some of colouring and crafts for the day, talked them through the beautiful page about the immaculate conception.  Mary conceived in St Ann, looking away from serpent indicating Mary preserved from original stain. Three rays of Holy Trinity. 

    

Happy Feast...and a wonderful journey through the lives of saints that gone before us.