October 20, 2012
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Righteous Indignation?
Once again, a trip to the local [big chain bookstore] got me in a tizzy.
They have their Christmas stuff out already, which always grumpifies me. I have, of course, given up on the idea that Christmas should be about Christ. (Who even thinks that any more?) So all the non-religious Christmas stuff doesn’t even make me take notice any more.
But, I’ll admit, I still have a thing about Advent.
You know, that season where the Church celebrates and anticipates and proclaims its longing for the coming of Jesus? Of Jesus?
Okay, yes, I’ve given up fighting against the secularization of Christmas, even though it actually mentions Jesus in its very name.
Advent, though–even though it doesn’t have a particularly Jesusy name–I thought Advent was safe. What possible secular use could Advent have?
Oh, how wrong I was.
Advent calendars have moved out of those kitschy Christian “Family” bookstores and into the secular marketplace.
Advent calendars, after all, have to be bought a full month before Christmas presents have to be bought, so that’s a nice little pre-Christmas bonus for merchants.
And if you make ‘em right, they require twenty-four to twenty-five little bits and bobs to put in the little drawers. Sure, some people could fill them with little pieces of candy, or rolled up Bible verses (those are the same people that give out toothbrushes and evangelical tracts at Halloween), or little messages of love.
But the smart retailer will convince people to buy whole new sets of twenty-four treats every year. Or even a whole new Advent calendar.
So. Why on earth did I think Advent calendars would escape Legofication?
Star Wars. Lego. Advent calendar. Featuring Darth Fricking Maul.
Now, I have a Playmobil nativity set that I like very much. I was delighted to find it. We have one nativity set that can be put in kiddie range, one nativity set about which I don’t have to say, “No, no! Don’t touch!”
But the Playmobil Advent calendars at the [big chain bookstore] really, really pissed me off.
There were six of them. Princess, Santa, pirates, but no Jesus. No Mary, no Joseph, no manger, no shepherds.
Not one Jesus, in any Advent set sold in [big chain bookstore].
“But Mommy!” Theo objected (possibly because of the stares I was getting during my hissy fit), “there’s an angel!”
“That’s not the angel Gabriel! It’s a princess with wings! Does that look like somebody who needs to say, ‘Fear not!’ when he comes around? Does it?!”
Well.
Needless to say, I was annoyed.
And then I got home and the Vosges Chocolate catalog was in the mailbox.
And guess what it had.
No, really. Guess.
And suddenly Advent calendars with no Jesus in them didn’t seem quite so bad.
Comments (4)
(1) Ooh, you still have a local big chain bookstore? Lucky dogs. Tell me, does it actually carry books?
(2) “Featuring Darth Fricking Maul.” = I love you so much. “Does that look like somebody who needs to say, ‘Fear not!’ when he comes around? Does it?!” = I love you even more.
(3) Growing up in an evangelical church with no liturgical sensibilities, the only place I ever encountered the word advent was on advent calendars, which as far as I could tell were simply “countdown to Christmas” products, where “Christmas” = “day that is special because you get a lot of presents.” I think at some point my mother may have tried to communicate some spiritual tone implied by the word “advent,” but it didn’t sink in.
(4) Mmm, CHOCOLATE …
I think you need to calm down. Light a candle. Like an advent candle. Like one of these:
http://www.bronners.com/product/nativity-advent-candle.do?utm_campaign=lv12&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=gshp&gdftrk=gdfV2399_a_7c470_a_7c7209_a_7c1085572
http://thechristmassleigh.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=aa24&Category_Code=0200XK
We always had a four candle advent wreath growing up, but I like these alot too.
BTW, don’t hate me, but I already bought my Playmobil Advent Calendar. The Winter Woodlands one. With all my favorite woodland creatures. And the cute princess angel. Oh, well.
Love the Playmobil Nativity, except it only comes with one shepherd. Hello? While SHEPHERDS watched thier flocks. Plural. More than one. So I’ve added Egypians and Farmers and other figures to make more shepherds. This year I also added this:
http://store.playmobilusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=4246&cgid=DISCONTINUED
It’s going to be the Inn in Bethlehem. My favorite part is the well. Plus it gives me one more camel.
I have no idea where I’m going to put this fantastic scene this year. That’s where my vision has failed me thus far.
Okay, I’ll give you this one – I had no idea there were Darth Maul advent calendars.
Sarah, if you think the advent calendars are secularized, look at the nativities being produced today. Everything from Native American teepee nativities to the Amish. But really, moose and dog nativities?