So a month ago, harp_of_israfel posted an entry bashing Advent (among other things - among talking about other things). I've been thinking about this all season. Because I love Advent. It may be my favorite liturgical season.

Advent is often described as being about waiting. And I suppose you can look at it that way. But I prefer the word anticipation. Also preparation. Waiting is something you do because you don't have anything better to do. Anticipation is something to be savored.

I think of Advent as a time of paring down, of slowing down, of focusing on the essentials. Hope. Peace. Love. Joy. Christ.
I like the Advent songs. They're distinct from Christmas songs, and while there are lots of obnoxious pop Christmas songs, there are many fewer obnoxious Advent songs. Advent songs tend to be a bit more reserved, and often draw from the Old Testament readings describing the coming of the Messiah. They're joyful, but in a different way than Christmas songs, and generally have absolutely gorgeous harmony. You just need to make sure that to sing them fast enough so that they don't drag.
And the Advent readings. The Isaiah readings are gorgeous pieces of poetry, even in translation (or maybe it's just that I'm inclined to hear Handel's Messiah whenever they are read aloud). And then there are the apocalyptic readings. I don't go to a particularly fire-and-brimstone church, so that "some shall be taken and some shall be left" sorts of readings are things that we really struggle with, which leads to interesting and thought-provoking sermons.

Perhaps I think of Advent as a sort of antidote to the secular celebrations of Christmas. I like the symbolism of Advent. It's not just that I'm fond of fire; there's something that really speaks to me about candles during the darkening months of December. A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Christmas Eve is the epitome of this for me, culminating in Stille Nacht as candles are lit around the room.

Perhaps later I will discuss why I found Christmas Eve this year unsatisfactory, and why the service yesterday served as a balm for my wounded sensibilities. Not at this particular moment. Do you people actually read when I babble about religion?