Christmas abroad

For Hungarians, Christmas is the holiday that is always celebrated with the family. Everyone stays at home,
we don’t go on vacation, skiing or abroad. No friends or relatives are invited. On Christmas Eve the family,
the closest community celebrates together, often with the grandparents, too.
Naturally, like all elements of culture, this is not a rigid rule. There are different versions and different
personal habits. However, everyone feels and understands that Christmas should be celebrated, as much as
possible, at home with the family.
I celebrated the 25 Christmases of my life this way. This one, the twenty-sixth, is the first that I celebrate
not with my parents, brothers and sisters, but with my new community: my Jesuit brothers. It is just right.
Now and on my closest community is not my family but the religious community of which I am a member.
The Lord invited me here and I chose this.
So deep down I feel at home.
The way of the preparation and the celebration, however, was a bit unfamiliar. I have to say that I missed
some of the usual elements of the preparation that I am used to.
The Advent in Hungary is a very special period, probably the most special one of the whole ecclesiastical
year. Every day at 6 or 6.30 the so-called ‘rorate’ mass is celebrated. Devout Catholics attend these morning
masses almost every day, before work or school. In many parishes a breakfast is organized after mass, too.
The morning darkness creates a unique environment. In the church we use only the lights that are
necessary for the mass. Week after week the growing light of the Advent wreath tells us that Christmas is
coming. In this way it is easier to live the expectation of the Light that comes into the world.
I have to say that I missed these morning masses.
On the other hand, there were also things that were new for me and helped me prepare for Christmas. For
example, the community construction of the crib on December 8, the silence during the mornings that our
community kept, the Novena of Christmas and of course the readings of each day. Participating the
midnight mass in the parish where I carry out my apostolate was also wonderful. It was solemn and joyful.
Then followed Christmas according to the Italian culture. I tasted the difference between the panettone,
the pandolce and the pandoro, on the 25th afternoon after lunch we played bingo, we had more free
time…
Today, a few days later, I find myself preparing for the spiritual exercises that we will begin in January. This
year I will not visit relatives and friends, but I will begin a much greater adventure with the Lord!