For Hungarians, Christmas is the holiday that is always celebrated with the family. Everyone stays at home,
\nwe don’t go on vacation, skiing or abroad. No friends or relatives are invited. On Christmas Eve the family,
\nthe closest community celebrates together, often with the grandparents, too.
\nNaturally, like all elements of culture, this is not a rigid rule. There are different versions and different
\npersonal habits. However, everyone feels and understands that Christmas should be celebrated, as much as
\npossible, at home with the family.
\nI celebrated the 25 Christmases of my life this way. This one, the twenty-sixth, is the first that I celebrate
\nnot with my parents, brothers and sisters, but with my new community: my Jesuit brothers. It is just right.
\nNow and on my closest community is not my family but the religious community of which I am a member.
\nThe Lord invited me here and I chose this.
\nSo deep down I feel at home.
\nThe way of the preparation and the celebration, however, was a bit unfamiliar. I have to say that I missed
\nsome of the usual elements of the preparation that I am used to.
\nThe Advent in Hungary is a very special period, probably the most special one of the whole ecclesiastical
\nyear. Every day at 6 or 6.30 the so-called ‘rorate’ mass is celebrated. Devout Catholics attend these morning
\nmasses almost every day, before work or school. In many parishes a breakfast is organized after mass, too.
\nThe morning darkness creates a unique environment. In the church we use only the lights that are
\nnecessary for the mass. Week after week the growing light of the Advent wreath tells us that Christmas is
\ncoming. In this way it is easier to live the expectation of the Light that comes into the world.
\nI have to say that I missed these morning masses.
\nOn the other hand, there were also things that were new for me and helped me prepare for Christmas. For
\nexample, the community construction of the crib on December 8, the silence during the mornings that our
\ncommunity kept, the Novena of Christmas and of course the readings of each day. Participating the
\nmidnight mass in the parish where I carry out my apostolate was also wonderful. It was solemn and joyful.
\nThen followed Christmas according to the Italian culture. I tasted the difference between the panettone,
\nthe pandolce and the pandoro, on the 25th afternoon after lunch we played bingo, we had more free
\ntime\u2026
\nToday, a few days later, I find myself preparing for the spiritual exercises that we will begin in January. This
\nyear I will not visit relatives and friends, but I will begin a much greater adventure with the Lord!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"