ADVENT- HE'S COMING BACK-YOU CAN COUNT ON IT.
God's not foolin around folks. The word ADVENT reminds us of this because it actually means in Latin "Coming." [Lat. Adventus, sc. Redemptoris, “the coming of the Saviour”,
Jesus is on his way. This should give us Hope--if you recognize Him.
I am fond of looking at how people around the Globe who have grasped this fact celebrate Advent:
From Wikipedia; In many countries, Advent was long marked by diverse popular observances, some of which still survive. In England, especially in the northern counties, there was a custom (now extinct) for poor women to carry around the "Advent images", two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A halfpenny ("half-P") was expected from every one to whom these were exhibited, and bad luck was thought to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve at the latest. (Remember the song-"if you haven't got a penny a hay-penny will do"- comes from this tradition.)
In Normandy, farmers employed children under twelve to run through the fields and orchards armed with torches, setting fire to bundles of straw, and thus it is believed driving out such vermin as are likely to damage the crops.
In Italy, among other Advent celebrations, is the entry into Rome in the last days of Advent of the Calabrian pifferari, or bagpipe players, who play before the shrines of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Italian tradition being that the shepherds played these pipes when they came to the manger at Bethlehem to pay homage to the infant Jesus. [There is a French wind instrument called the "shepherd's pipe"- early versions were conceptually made by poking holes in hollow reeds.] Have I just explained by accident why this is such a popular instrument at weddings?
And you thought Bag-pipes were just for Scotsmen in quilted pleated plaid mini-skirts.
Whether you play the Pipes, http://www.italianspringschool.it/, cling in a bell choir, blow a trumpet or shofar, stretch your melodious vocal chords, tap your foot or whistle in Dixie, listen to the choir of Angels this season and wonder: where does this beautiful amazing sound come from? Just Imagine; What Key is Heaven In?
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