| February
6,
2008
Chapter
Update:
S.P.A.R.O.Y.
Christmas
Caroling
by
Ioana
Ciuta,
S.P.A.R.O.Y.
Historian
Our
S.P.A.R.O.Y.
Chapter
upheld
the
Orthodox
Christian
tradition
of
Christmas
caroling
on
Saturday,
December
22,
2007.
Following
the
Holy
Vespers
service
which
we
attended,
we
practiced
and
socialized
a
bit
before
going
to
our
first
house.
Rev.
Fr.
Georgel
Oanca,
our
parish
priest,
led
the
group
consisting
of
Luke
Grigore
(chapter
president),
Andreea
Grigore,
Lucia
Arseni,
Alin
Pop,
Andrei
Oanca,
and
Maria
Stângu.
The
carolers
and
those
who
received
us
had
an
enjoyable
evening
and
raised
$650.
Christmas
caroling
at
people's
homes
is
a
tradition
that
comes
not
just
from
our
native
country,
Romania,
but
also
other
European
nations
that
used
to
be
colonies
of
the
Roman
Empire.
In
conquering
most
of
Europe,
the
Romans
brought
with
them
their
customs,
including
pagan
celebrations,
two
of
which
are
related
to
this
caroling
tradition.
The
first
pagan
custom,
Sol
Invictus
(The
Unconquered
Sun),
was
a
cult
created
by
the
emperor
Aurelian
(270-274
A.D.)
which
worshipped
the
sun
god.
Each
year,
the
Romans
held
a
festival
on
December
25
called
Dies
Natalis
Solis
Invicti
(The
Birthday
of
the
Unconquered
Sun).
In
an
attempt
by
Christians
to
change
the
old
pagan
ways,
St.
Theodosius
the
Great
abolished
the
pagan
celebration
of
Sol
Invictus
in
390
A.D.
and
instituted
the
Christian
celebration
of
the
Nativity
of
Our
Lord
God
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
on
December
25
in
its
place
(nine
months
from
the
Feast
of
the
Annunciation).
Our
Church's
Holy
Fathers
attributed
a
new
meaning
to
this
annual
celebration
by
focusing
on
Christ
as
the
Sun
of
Righteousness.
As
we
sing
in
the
Tropar
of
the
Nativity:
"Your
Nativity,
O
Christ
our
God,
has
shown
to
the
world
the
light
of
wisdom;
for
by
it
those
who
worshipped
the
stars
were
taught
by
a
star
to
adore
You,
the
Sun
of
Righteousness
and
to
know
You,
the
Orient
from
on
high.
O
Lord,
glory
to
You!"
The
second
pagan
event,
Saturnalia,
was
a
Roman
festival
held
from
December
17
through
December
23,
and
was
dedicated
to
the
Roman
god
Saturn.
It
was
marked
by
tomfoolery
and
reversal
of
social
roles
in
which
slaves
and
masters
ostensibly
switched
places.
Gambling
was
allowed
for
all,
even
slaves,
and
it
was
a
time
to
"eat,
drink
and
be
merry."
Again,
the
Holy
Fathers
of
the
Church
had
to
change
the
pagan
ways.
St.
Theodosius
the
Great
declared
the
Orthodox
Christian
Faith
the
official
religion
of
the
empire,
and
the
Holy
Fathers
replaced
Saturnalia
with
Christmas
caroling,
a
joyful
tradition
proclaiming
Christ's
birth.
The
Church
allows
Christmas
caroling
during
the
Nativity
fasting
period,
beginning
either
at
the
beginning
of
the
Fast
(November
15)
or
with
the
Feast
of
St.
Nicholas
(December
6)
depending
on
the
local
custom.
It
is
customary
in
Romania
for
children
to
dress
up
in
traditional
Romanian
costumes
and
go
by
foot
throughout
their
village
or
town
caroling
at
every
home.
We
trust
that
the
S.P.A.R.O.Y.
Chapter
succeeded
in
enlightening
many
people's
hearts
with
the
spirit
of
the
Nativity
of
Our
Lord
God
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ.
God
bless
the
loving
and
caring
hearts
of
our
S.P.A.R.O.Y.
group!
|
