Journeying through the Festival Season

 Journeying through the heart of our tradition

 In December you can hardly escape the familiar Christmas songs heard in shops, on the radio and anywhere where music is played over a loudspeaker. To be honest, I love some of the old songs, but one which really springs to mind is ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea. He wrote it while stuck in holiday traffic, travelling from London to Middlesbrough with his wife in their Austin Mini. Apparently, the record label wouldn’t pay for his train ticket home!

For me, it makes me think of one of my sons driving home on leave, navigating the darkness and weather, along with so many others, in the expectation of the joy of home and family.

This year, even Marks and Spencer is advertising its Christmas goodies with an advert of being on the motorway in a traffic jam at Christmas. Journeying then is something that so many of us are familiar with at this time of year, as an estimated 29.3 million journeys are taken over the Christmas period.

As winter descends and the year draws to a close, December and January offer Christians a unique opportunity to journey through the heart of our tradition. The season begins with Advent, a time of anticipation and reflection. In churches and homes, candles are lit each Sunday, marking the countdown to Christmas, a moment filled with hope and the promise of new beginnings. Advent calendars are eagerly opened each day, revealing a host of surprises - sometimes even religious ones!

Christmas Day itself is the joyful celebration of Christ’s birth. It was the most momentous journey of all time, as God came from the realms of heaven into a dark, smelly stable. God, in Jesus of Nazareth, came as a vulnerable newborn child to a teenage mother and her baffled husband. A journey often marked by midnight services, carol singing, and gatherings with loved ones. Yet it does not end there. The days that follow, stretching into January, bring the Twelve Days of Christmas—a period for continued reflection and gratitude.

January also ushers in Epiphany, commemorating the Magi's visit and Christ's revelation to the wider world. Across Britain and Ireland, traditions such as chalking the door remind families of the blessings and guidance sought for the coming year. Together, these months invite believers to pause, celebrate, and carry the light of faith into the new year, embracing both the quiet of winter and the promise of spiritual renewal.

At this time of year, may you know the joy of home and family that comes from the enormous significance of that momentous journey two thousand years ago. As we travel into a new year and the unknown, may you be able to ‘Get your feet on holy ground’ and know the strength, love, and companionship of Christ offered throughout our own journey through life.

Revd Susan