I was contemplating this very thing during the Maundy Thursday service. I agree that autumn/winter is an appropriate time to enter into the period of mourning, which leads up to Easter Sunday. The cold, dark autumnal weather leads us to a place of inner contemplation of the life lost of Jesus, and the cruel, cold-hearted manner in which he was slaughtered. However, it does leave us a little wanting of seasonal symbolism as we reach Easter Sunday and celebrate the renewal of new life!
However, winter is traditionally a time of turning inwards and inner contemplation, which is reflected in a sense of our faith being something we carry deep in our hearts. There are many beautiful and productive plants and tress that require planting in winter, when their limbs are bare and branches stark. The cold of winter prepares them for the coming of spring, and when the conditions are right, they burst into abundant life. Perhaps our faith does this at times, too. There are times we feel close to God, and times when God feels distant and we can struggle to dwell in His presence and peace.
The symbolism of the changing seasons/harvest, etc, is often lost to a degree in our modern world, which is a real shame. We live in a time where the small farm is a dwindling reality, food is shipped from all over the world despite the seasons. Electric lights turn night into day, and the rhythm of cutting, stacking, and lighting a fire is replaced by the flick of a switch on an electric heater. But that is perhaps another topic altogether!
Perhaps for me, who can be slow to think things over and contemplate on what God is saying to me in a particular season, the season both liturgical and natural, falls at exactly the right time.
Thanks for sharing this, Emma. I really like how you phrased the idea about the many plants (perhaps the majority) that require planting in the cold of winter (or autumn) and the struggle of faith when God feels distant; I think this is exactly the setting of the Harrowing of Hell (Christ goes down to free those souls feeling most dark and distant from Him, the Light and the Life). This is part of why I think an autumnal easter can feel exactly right (even as it creates a paradox within the story's vernal victory).
Happy Easter, Peter! It's certainly a strange thing celebrating Easter at the 'wrong' time of year. We could try celebrating it during our own Springtime, of course, but then we're out of sync with the Northeners, which causes further inconsistencies...
Some further thoughts on my reflections you quoted here: I think part of my problem was that I was trying to engage with Easter in a secular way - seeing it as (merely) a time to connect with family, a time to give and receive gifts, a time to relax. These things are fine, but over the past few months I've been going to church, trying to reconnect with my Catholic faith. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go this weekend, but I've been a few times throughout Lent, I've been praying more, reading the Bible, etc., and I think this has helped me to find more meaning in Easter. I still have a way to go, but engaging deeply with the actual meaning of the holiday, the death and rebirth of Christ - shockingly! - has given it more meaning.
Happy Easter, Dan! Christ is risen! Yes, I think celebrating Easter in our own Springtime would indeed cause too many inconsistencies. It's terrific that you're reconnecting with your Catholic faith -- 'holy'-days do certainly take on more meaning in a religious context. Godspeed, Brother, and thanks again for your input on the instigating Note from last year.
Got me wondering about the Jewish tradition of considering sundown the start of the new day. I wonder if we thought of our days as starting with the night and breaking into dawn halfway, then an autumn Easter wouldn't seem so strange 🤔
Awesome. I really appreciated your proofreading and feedback on this one, Nat. I see what you mean about considering sundown the start of the day too; it would definitely help ... Cheers! Christ is risen!
I was contemplating this very thing during the Maundy Thursday service. I agree that autumn/winter is an appropriate time to enter into the period of mourning, which leads up to Easter Sunday. The cold, dark autumnal weather leads us to a place of inner contemplation of the life lost of Jesus, and the cruel, cold-hearted manner in which he was slaughtered. However, it does leave us a little wanting of seasonal symbolism as we reach Easter Sunday and celebrate the renewal of new life!
However, winter is traditionally a time of turning inwards and inner contemplation, which is reflected in a sense of our faith being something we carry deep in our hearts. There are many beautiful and productive plants and tress that require planting in winter, when their limbs are bare and branches stark. The cold of winter prepares them for the coming of spring, and when the conditions are right, they burst into abundant life. Perhaps our faith does this at times, too. There are times we feel close to God, and times when God feels distant and we can struggle to dwell in His presence and peace.
The symbolism of the changing seasons/harvest, etc, is often lost to a degree in our modern world, which is a real shame. We live in a time where the small farm is a dwindling reality, food is shipped from all over the world despite the seasons. Electric lights turn night into day, and the rhythm of cutting, stacking, and lighting a fire is replaced by the flick of a switch on an electric heater. But that is perhaps another topic altogether!
Perhaps for me, who can be slow to think things over and contemplate on what God is saying to me in a particular season, the season both liturgical and natural, falls at exactly the right time.
Thanks for sharing this, Emma. I really like how you phrased the idea about the many plants (perhaps the majority) that require planting in the cold of winter (or autumn) and the struggle of faith when God feels distant; I think this is exactly the setting of the Harrowing of Hell (Christ goes down to free those souls feeling most dark and distant from Him, the Light and the Life). This is part of why I think an autumnal easter can feel exactly right (even as it creates a paradox within the story's vernal victory).
Happy Easter, Peter! It's certainly a strange thing celebrating Easter at the 'wrong' time of year. We could try celebrating it during our own Springtime, of course, but then we're out of sync with the Northeners, which causes further inconsistencies...
Some further thoughts on my reflections you quoted here: I think part of my problem was that I was trying to engage with Easter in a secular way - seeing it as (merely) a time to connect with family, a time to give and receive gifts, a time to relax. These things are fine, but over the past few months I've been going to church, trying to reconnect with my Catholic faith. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go this weekend, but I've been a few times throughout Lent, I've been praying more, reading the Bible, etc., and I think this has helped me to find more meaning in Easter. I still have a way to go, but engaging deeply with the actual meaning of the holiday, the death and rebirth of Christ - shockingly! - has given it more meaning.
Happy Easter, Dan! Christ is risen! Yes, I think celebrating Easter in our own Springtime would indeed cause too many inconsistencies. It's terrific that you're reconnecting with your Catholic faith -- 'holy'-days do certainly take on more meaning in a religious context. Godspeed, Brother, and thanks again for your input on the instigating Note from last year.
Excellent mate! This really turned out well.
Got me wondering about the Jewish tradition of considering sundown the start of the new day. I wonder if we thought of our days as starting with the night and breaking into dawn halfway, then an autumn Easter wouldn't seem so strange 🤔
Awesome. I really appreciated your proofreading and feedback on this one, Nat. I see what you mean about considering sundown the start of the day too; it would definitely help ... Cheers! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Finally! As a fellow Aussie, I have really puzzled over this. Thanks for laying this out. This is brilliant!
Cheers, Jaidyn! I'm glad I'm not the only one puzzled by our upside-down-ness!