My fondness for Ottorino Respighi’s Lauda per la Nativitá del Signore (Lauds for the Nativity of the Lord) comes from personal experience. Despite a wealth of musical opportunities in my life, few chances arose to play in ensembles. But those I did have are etched … Read more
My anxiety at December’s rapid passing changed when I learned to regard today as “Advent’s Third Sunday” rather than “Oh no, Christmas is seven minutes away, and we’re not ready!” Advent grants us space and time. It allows us to forego the frantic twists of … Read more
Our attention today turns to the poetess Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), author of the well-known and lovely Christmas texts In the Bleak Midwinter and Love Came Down at Christmas. Rossetti was a master of lyrical verse, devotional verse, and children’s poetry—a wide span for any author … Read more
As someone who extols the value of observing Advent and withholding engagement in Christmas activities until deeper into Advent, I also belong to a group that has to get involved in Christmas early: musicians! If you’ve ever been in a choir or band, you know … Read more
The decade our family spent on a ranch in North Central Texas remains a highlight of our lives. The intense, valuable education we received was not just about raising livestock (goats, cows, horses), but about partaking in the tender, joyful community life of a real … Read more
Since the first phalanx of holiday bakers will attack the stove this weekend, we’d better have a conversation about fruitcake. Fruitcake, according to what I read, is making a comeback among Americans who never experienced it growing up. The key words here are “never experienced … Read more
A few weeks ago, the headlines began screaming: Will Christmas be on the Shelves in 2021? My mother would not have understood this question. People certainly went Christmas-shopping in her generation, and with enthusiasm: the stores were beautifully decorated; the show windows breathtaking. Everything looked … Read more
Thanksgiving gatherings have begun to fade into memory. And whatever your strategy for avoiding (or indulging in) the retail phenomenon called “Black Friday,” this odd period is over too, or at least I hope it is over. Around here, Black Friday has been like the bad … Read more
Advent starts early this year: November 27. Here in Germany, we are just days away from the building phase of Weimar’s delightful Christmas Market. It takes a surprisingly long time to lay out the boards, brackets, and electric wiring that transform this quiet town into … Read more
Inspired by suggestions we heard from so many of you, we decided to publish a collection of the daily essays of our online Advent Calendar. We are pleased that it is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle editions. Journey Through Advent began its own journey … Read more
