HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

With the Advent and Christmas seasons upon us, I've been thinking about traditions lately.  As my own family grows and changes, our family traditions evolve.  Some are "cast in stone" and others drop off, and new ones emerge.  That is true of Advent, too. In 50 years we have always had a Christmas Pageant, but do you know about the Valentine's Dinner and Fashion Show, Progressive Dinner, or Palm Sunday Walk?


ADVENT, CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY

It is impossible to write about all of the traditions associated with Advent and Christmas. Of course the Christmas Pageant is one of those "cast in stone." But even it has evolved. The wonderful Appalachian Christmas that we experienced this year is great example. When Advent was young, the Christmas Pageant consisted of the retelling of the basic Christmas story by the children, usually with either an older youth or adult narrator. Last Sunday and in recent years, we have incorporated all ages of the congregation, incorporated the choir, and retold the story as a full fledged play set in contemporary times. This is a wonderful evolution that involves more of the congregation and helps us contemplate how the never-changing story of Christ coming among us can be lived out today.

Joyce Fox and I produced a memorable pageant in the late 80's.  While we weren't quite plagued with the foibles of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, we felt there was too much competition over choosing Mary and Joseph.  So one year we cooked up the idea to let each of the children choose whomever they wanted to be, and designed a program so that we could have multiple Marys, Josephs, shepherds, angels, animals, etc.  We coached the kids to come dressed as their favorite character in the narrative or to come early and choose or make a costume before the pageant. We got out all of the costumes and had materials for extras. As we prepared to tell the story, we had adults in the major roles and as the story was told, the adult Mary would gather all of the young Marys and talk to them about what it might have been like for her on that special night.  We planned to do this for Joseph, the angels, shepherds, even the animals! What we didn't count on was  several of the boys wanting to be the Inn Keeper.  At the last minute we added this part and recruited June Porter in the adult role.  June did a great job explaining the census and how his inn was full. He was even having to put people up in the barn!  Then one of the little darlings (I think it was Matthew Fox or Ernie Eich), brought the house down with his probing question:  "I've always wondered, was there a pool in that Holiday Inn?"  June truly "lost it" and luckily Ellen Eich, our choir director, helped us gather our composure by inserting a few Christmas Carols.

During those times, we were a very young congregation.  Most of us had young children and needed a few fellowship opportunities that were "just for the adults."  This produced the Progressive Dinner, a tradition that lived at least 10 years or more.  We would begin at the church with appetizers and then go to folk's homes in groups of 6-10 for the main meal, then gather back at the church for dessert.  As the event evolved, we would sometimes end at one of the member's houses. I remember several years we ended at Kirby and Cherie Strickland's home. As the event neared, we eagerly awaited the list to be published of who was coming to whose home!  I think the organizers of this event  saw this as both a logistical nightmare and opportunity to put folks together that would generate "interesting" conversations!  It definitely let us see the adult side of our fellow parishioners!  

The Christmas season ends with Epiphany.  In the 80's we were not within the city limits of Charlotte but "out in the county".  We would end Christmas and celebrate the light of Epiphany with the "burning of the greens."  Using our real Chrismon tree and several contributed from the neighborhood we would greet the stars of Epiphany with a bonfire, a last round of Christmas carols, roasted marshmallows, and inevitably a few fireworks.  The year that we became incorporated into the city, our celebration was interrupted with the sound of fire sirens.  They came closer and closer and suddenly we realized they were coming for us! We were no longer under the jurisdiction of the volunteer firehouse who was accustomed to our celebration!  While we could of perhaps applied for a religious exemption, we decided that this was one tradition who's end had come.  We also had to purchase an artificial Christmas tree the next year.  It was either that, or forego the lights.  And with a newly paved parking lot, we had lost our temporary fire pit. Urbanization has its price! 

VALENTINES:
DINNERS, DANCES, AND FASHION SHOWS!




In this same vein, the men of the church had a tradition that lasted several decades of sponsoring a Valentines Day dinner, often including dancing, just for the adults of the church. One of the sweetest things I remember about this event was how an extra effort was made to include the single adult women of the congregation with or without a "date". Old pictures record that a few of these dinners were held at the church and the women contributed "themed" fashion shows! These are some of my favorite photos from the archive!!

I love this picture for it shows the old Sunday School/Gathering space that is now the Campus Ministry space and June Porter at a table of all women including  Miss Ruth Blackwelder!
(Mabel's seat is empty - I'm sure she was "fixin' something" in the kitchen!)

Diane Wassum as a World Traveler,
dressed in maps and a Polaroid camera!!
(You may have to explain a polaroid to younger members of the Advent family!)

Ann Hess - What was she selling? 

As the event evolved, the men moved it to various restaurants, of which there weren't many back then in the University Area.  The Amber House and a long-gone Chinese restaurant which used to be on North Tryon near the Old Concord Rd. train stop hosted us.  And for several years we drove out to Cabarrus County to Lake Lynn Lodge.  This added dancing to the festivities.  When UNCC added space available to the community in the Cone Center, we moved across the street.  Whether it was dinner, dancing, or a fashion show, I remember the men always gave each woman a rose!

EASTER








Like Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter hold many traditions. One that has survived 50 years is the making of Palm Crosses. On our very first Palm Sunday, Pastor McKay's parents were living in Savannah, and they sent us palm fronds to make our first crosses.





For many years we joined with St. Thomas Aquinas and other neighborhood churches for a palm walk through the College Downs neighborhood, joyfully singing common Easter hymns. This provided us an opportunity to witness in the community and with other Christian neighbors.











For several years we held a Seder meal complete with lamb and bitter herbs (much to the distress of my son, the picky eater, who now as an adult loves these things!)


Tenebrae Services on Maundy Thursday have had several forms. One of the first I remember included a chillingly beautiful a cappella solo of Were You There by Kuniko Barber as the church went to complete darkness.




Back to school has had several traditions, some new and some evolving. For many years we had a Campus Ministry Committee and we would grill hamburgers and hot dogs on campus to welcome the students back. As with many traditions this one has evolved. Diane Large remembers a recent year when Popsicle and frozen treats were greatly appreciated as students moved in on a hot day, and chocolates have been a big hit too!


Rally Day is also a day when we traditionally kick off our Sunday School year. For many years we would traditionally reserve a shelter at either Frank Liske or Reedy Creek Park. After a congregational picnic, the adults would take on the children in a game of soft ball or volley ball.


A newer tradition that shows our growth in social ministry is the backpack ministry we launch in the summer as Christmas in July.






Fall Festival and Halloween

A few years ago a tradition was added to the Men's Fall BBQ. They joined with Sharon Thrower and Adventure Preschool to add a Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat Event. This has become very successful in celebrating the outreach that the preschool has in the neighborhood and community at large!





WHAT IS A TRADITION?


It has been fun to think about the various holiday traditions at Advent. I looked up tradition in dictionary.com and it said, "the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation". I also "googled" How many times do you have to do a thing for it to become a tradition? The answer varied from 3 to 20 depending who responded to the query. I'm sure I've left out much more than I've written about. It would be fun for you to add your memories of Advent Holiday traditions in the comment section. While our traditions may come and go, evolve, or be "cast in stone", one thread seems to run through them: a sense of spiritual community and a desire to live in a Christian community that "loves God and serves our neighbor". Tradition dictates that we pass this along.