text: The season of celebration | Belleville News-Democrat
  A season to celebrate, reach out to others | Belleville News-Democrat
  A season to celebrate, reach out to others
  By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Leslie Forbes-Mariani
  December 01, 2016 09:10 AM
  Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Leslie Forbes-Mariani, U.S. Transportation Command Photo by Bob Fehringer
  Each year at this time, around the world, celebrations and merry-making hit a high note. In North America, what we now know as Christmas has become both a secular holiday as well as religious. Many traditions of the season have been gathered together from many peoples, other religions and various traditions apart from Christian.
  The Christmas season as celebrated in the Christian Church has three segments; it starts with Advent on the forth Sunday from Christmas (usually the Sunday of Thanksgiving) and ends on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Then the second segment referred to as the 12 Days of Christmas, run from Christmas Day to Epiphany the last segment. So we can officially celebrate the Christmas Holidays Thanksgiving through the first of the year.
  No guilt for those of you who love to decorate right after Thanksgiving!
  During this time of year there are additional wonderful opportunities to celebrate. Some celebrate the New Year with parties and noise making. Many churches have a service over the midnight hour and start the New Year with a fast or feast to seek God for direction in the coming year.