tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post680369837647565010..comments2023-10-05T13:28:44.932+02:00Comments on The Island of the Voices: Pre-AdventDawnTreaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13956409908791716009noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post-30981993745050292722009-11-26T01:14:14.891+01:002009-11-26T01:14:14.891+01:00I like the fact that in Sweden Advent is important...I like the fact that in Sweden Advent is important. In this country only people who go to liturgical churches even know we are into the season of Advent.Dr.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752941912945095736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post-52134231066822242722009-11-24T13:42:28.753+01:002009-11-24T13:42:28.753+01:00Thanks everyone for your comments. Sweden these da...Thanks everyone for your comments. Sweden these days is not a very religious country, and all our holidays indeed rather commercialised. My guess is a lot of people don't have the slightest idea of the meaning of Advent as in waiting for "the coming of Christ", but we still (more or less) celebrate it; as I said, if only to brighten up the midwinter darkness. I will be returning to bits and pieces of our traditions in the next few weeks.DawnTreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13956409908791716009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post-31639747769892060982009-11-24T10:52:39.735+01:002009-11-24T10:52:39.735+01:00advent is indeed a very important celebration here...advent is indeed a very important celebration here in the Philippines. it is in anticipation of the coming of the Christ, the firstborn of all. we also have a nine-day novena of Masses starting Dec 16 and ends on the 24th. these are dawn masses that begin at 4am! i will post more about Christmas in my country this week. <br /><br />you have a beautiful blog! as i said in your other blog, i do love cs.lewis too. <br /><br />i do know how you feel, to lose a loved one, your mother...at about this time last year, my father passed away, nov 27. it is difficult, but we just have to accept life's mysteries...and God's beauty in the midst of all these..<br /><br />go gently through life...warm smiles from these islands!<br /><br /><br />weenawomanwisdomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356380651679322859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post-65282927723666245542009-11-24T08:00:04.955+01:002009-11-24T08:00:04.955+01:00Advent is a non-event here as well, except to thos...Advent is a non-event here as well, except to those who are involved with the church. We have Advent calendars but they are just an excuse to open a window (or get a little sweet) each day as a build up to Christmas. <br />I hope you and your Dad find a way through the celebrations.Scriptor Senexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17795521284516432520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post-4236829880941691762009-11-24T00:57:52.258+01:002009-11-24T00:57:52.258+01:00Advent is hardly celebrated here. And I think many...Advent is hardly celebrated here. And I think many do not even know what it means. In Holland there was at least some mention of it on the 4 Sundays before Christmas, and candles were lighted, etc.<br />You are right, the first major holidays with the loss of a loved one may be extremely hard. Just letting the grief come up is the best way to del with it:)Jeannette StGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951617490107614687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1442254671730490997.post-3463203375412133772009-11-23T20:45:45.424+01:002009-11-23T20:45:45.424+01:00You have just brought a whole new dimension to Chr...You have just brought a whole new dimension to Christmas. I became very disillusioned with the commercialisation of what was, to me, a Christian festival. I've never really been a Christmassy person ever since. Now I can see that, for many, the sheer colour and brightness can lift the spirits.<br /><br />I've never seen winter in that way. To me winter was (it's 4 years since I experienced one)a time to draw in the horns, cosy up and do winter things. Given the almost absence of night in midsummer on Lewis and about 7 hours of daylight in midwinter I used to get lots of winter things done.GBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10289400344300258872noreply@blogger.com