A Simple St. Nicholas Day

My grandson's first St. Nicholas Day, 2020!

Today is St. Nicholas Day, and we are nearing the end of the first week of advent. My theme this first week is to "Cherish and care for the earth". I aim to celebrate simply, and consume less, so that I have a gentle impact on the planet.

The modern way of observing the winter holidays supports an increase in waste; one statistic says that Americans throw away 25% more trash – an additional 5 million tons – between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. A fun holiday season doesn't have to be a wasteful one!

Agenda Today:
1. Advent Prayer
2. Journal queries
3. Read "Soulful Simplicity"
4. Decorate our outdoor tree

St. Nicolas Eve

Tonight is the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Nicholas was born in Lycia, which is now part of Turkey. Legend says he was a kind and generous man, who protected the poor and did many great deeds.

In Holland St. Nicholas is called Sinter Klaas (he is the original Santa Claus). He is the patron saint of children, sailors, innocents, and others in need. Children in Holland leave their shoes by the fireplace on this night (or sometimes all week), and in the morning they are filled with marzipan and small toys. 

Agenda today:

1. Joy of Giving meditation

2. Journal queries

3. Donate to Toys for Tots

4. Make pfeffernüsse

5. Deliver gifts

A Natural Christmas

My theme for this week of Advent is "cherish and care for the earth". One way I do that is by celebrating with nature. Each year, this first week, I bring nature indoors, by collecting greens, pine cones, straw, and other natural materials to use for decorations, and for making gifts.

I've been collecting fallen branches of evergreens for the last weeks, and now I will bring them inside to deck my halls.

2023

Greens are the first decorations I put up around the house, along with a few candles, to open the door to a little light, and to connect with the earth. Evergreens are a symbol of eternal life, and also symbolic protection against trouble. Today I bring the protective spirit of nature inside.

Agenda:

1. Read "Shinto Meditations"

2. Stick tree hanging

3. Dry some oranges

4. Make sweet, salty, or spicy nuts

Nativity Fast

The Nativity Fast is the Orthodox Christian way to experience the waiting which is Advent. Instead of “pre-celebrating” Christmas, they have a 40-day period of fasting, beginning on November 15th (but I wait until sometime AFTER Thanksgiving!)

The Orthodox Church teaches that Advent represents the time before Jesus‚ when the people were disconnected from God. Advent is our chance to experience this loss and disconnection in order to embrace and celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth in its fullness.

During the fast, Orthodox Christians eat less than normal, and avoid meat‚ cheese‚ eggs‚ fish and wine on most days. They keep a primarily vegan diet, without being strict about it - the spirit of the practice is more important than what is actually eaten. Besides fasting, the practice includes also prayer, alms-giving, and love. 

Agenda Today:
1. Prayer for the fast

2. Love

3. My Nativity fast

4. Read "Soulful Simplicity"

5. Make Mushroom Stroganoff

Advent Earth Care

My theme for this first week of Advent is "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in many ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth;
• by learning the names of my neighbors- the birds, bugs, trees, and plants;
• by advocating for earthcare with my community;
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Shinto Meditations"

2. Journal queries
3. Redefine my work for earth care

4. Collection walks
5. Make bird feeder pine cones

First Sunday of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent!

ad•vent (ad’ vent) n. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important.

The advent season is a time of expectant waiting. We look forward with excitement to the celebration of Christmas; we wait for the return of longer days after the solstice; and we anticipate the arrival of grace in our hearts.

Grace is a state of being - at peace, free, filled with love & light.

I'll fill the next weeks with decorating, baking, buying gifts, and singing songs... but enfolding the busyness is the simple, deep peace and love of advent. I wait, anticipate, and learn again that transformation is a slow process.

Agenda today:
1. Advent prayer

2. Grace notes
3. Plan activities to express my unity with nature

5. Set intentions
4. Advent wreath ceremony