There is a Nativity tableau outside St Edmund’s Church in Abingdon. Lit up at night and visible during the day, it shows a traditional scene in a wooden stable: Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus in a manger, watched over by an angel, with shepherds, the three wise men, and animals, with a painted night sky and an enormous star.
The scene marks the birth Christians celebrate on 25 December, a date close to midwinter, in the Northern Hemisphere, when days are shortest and darkness strongest. Before Christianity, this time of year was already associated with looking for a turning point, the slow return of the light.
Around it sit other Christmas traditions: Father Christmas and presents, family gatherings, shared meals. Christian belief, older seasonal customs, commercial Christmas, and family life all come together at much the same time.
Merry Christmas, however you celebrate it.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry to you all ⛄
Oops…I omitted Christmas!
Dearest Abingdon… you are all very much welcome to visit “the holy criib”..especially in the evening when it looks its best.
May God bless you all this Christmas day and every day
Our lady and saint Edmunds Catholic Church
Thank you Backstreeter and the same to you and your family. You’ve done a marvellous of job keeping us informed of events and happenings in Abingdon over the year. I don’t know how we’d manage without you. Season’s greetings to you and to all readers of the Blog.
Thank you again Backstreeter for your hard work. For those of us who are away a lot this blog is so reassuring!
A Merry Christmas (until at least 6 January!) to everyone. Thanks for another marvellous year on the blog, Backstreeter. You show us so many treasures, and you yourself are a treasure of this ancient town.
Merry Xmas Backstreeter, and carry on the good work, you make people happy