Advent Calendar - December 17, 2007

Christmas Church Services

Did your family attend religious services during the Christmas season? What were the customs and traditions involved?

Here is a brief summary of contributions from fellow bloggers and links to their individual posts:

Stephen brings us Midnight Mass and Incense posted at Steve's Genealogy Blog. He discusses his role as an altar boy and the steps involved in preparing the thurible.

At Creative Gene we see In Church at Christmas and Jasia's detailed description of her home church, Sweetest Heart of Mary in Detroit. Go see the amazing photos and learn about the Midnight Mass held there each year.

Lori presents Christmas Church Services posted at Smoky Mountain Family Historian. She remembers various traditions including an Advent wreath and a Chrismon tree.

In Christmas Church Services at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi, Terry tells us how he has attended various churches during the holidays. He describes pageants and musical programs as well as Christmas Midnight Communion.

Lisa at A light that shines again gives us a lovely Irish poem in "Mass Going Feet" and "A Frosty Dawn." It describes the wonder surrounding the trip a family takes to Mass on Christmas morn.

At Genea-Musings Randy presents Day 8 - Christmas Church Services. As a member of his church in Chula Vista, California he describes various traditions such as the post-service procession to the cross and singing Silent Night on Christmas Eve.

Becky presents Christmas Church Services posted at kinexxions. While she doesn't remember many Christmas related church services growing up, she now keeps Christmas in a personal way.

In Christmas Church Services posted at Janet the researcher, we hear of a popular Carol Service. Janet tells us how the service was conducted and also remembers other music-filled services from years past.

Diane at CanadaGenealogy, or 'Jane's Your Aunt' presents Christmas Church Services. Her early memories don't include attending Christmas Eve services but she started attending later in her adult years.

At Small-leaved Shamrock, Lisa has a fascinating post entitled St. Clair, PA and a Merry Christmas to all! She describes how churches in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania celebrated Christmas in the late 19th century.

Apple presents Christmas at Church posted at Apple's Tree. Apple also celebrates Christmas in a private way these days but her memories of church services past includes singing with her brother in the choir.

I recall many an exhausting Christmas Eve helping out at three different services. Hear all the details in Church, Church and More Church at Destination: Austin Family.

Check back tomorrow for more submissions on the next topic: Christmas Stockings

Photo: Blankeneser Kirche am Markt, Hamburg, Germany. Source: Tinker*Tailor, Flickr