November, 2007

				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11 Feast of St. Martin (Martinmass)	12 St. Martin's Fast Begins (43 days until Christmas)	13	14 Feast of St. Philip the Apostle (see note)	15 St. Philip's Fast Begins (40 days until Christmas)	16	17 Arrival of Sinterklaas: Zie ginds komt de stoomboot
18 Orthodox Hymns for Saint Nicholas	19 'Twas the Night Before Christmas / Good Saint Nich'las	20 Jingle Bells	21 I Wonder As I Wander	22 Thanksgiving (U.S.): Over the River and Through the Wood - Original Version	23 Christmas is Coming / Welcome Yule	24 The Holly And The Ivy
25 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	26 Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying	27 Ding Dong Merrily on High	28 Now Blazing Yule Logs	29 Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night	30 Feast of St. Andrew. Look How The Moon Shines Through The Trees	1

The references to the beginnings of St. Martin's Fast and St. Philip's Fast mark the beginning of two (of several) Christmas "Lents" and Advent devotions. Currently, Advent Sunday is that Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew, Nov. 30.

St. Martin's Lent has a duration of 43 days, and begins at the conclusion of his feast day (i.e., Nov. 12). In a similar fashion, St. Philip's Fast begins at the conclusion of the his feast (in the Greek Church; in the Roman Church, it is observed on May 3, and is observed on May 1 in some denominations); it marks 40 days until the Feast of the Nativity.

In other traditions, Advent may be five Sundays, five weeks, six Sundays or six weeks. In many traditions, the requirement to observe a fast was, strictly speaking, only required of the clergy; in others, both the clergy and laity were required to fulfill the obligation.

Note: I have edited and will be shortly releasing a volume of poetry dedicated to the Advent. It's title will be "The Bridegroom Cometh." It will be available at Lulu.com: Douglas Anderson's Christmas Storefront.