Diane and I are in Florida this week. This year's North American Mennonite Conference Ministers meetings were scheduled for St. Petersburg, and I immediately considered it a no-brainer that Diane would come along and we would extend our time here with a week of vacation. I mean, in December 2009 when the decision was made, we started making plans! Funny - of the approximately 40 people at these meetings, and all of them north from here (except the hosting conference minister) - only 2 other couples sensed a Florida vacation as a no-brainer opportunity to connect to these meetings. None of the other Canadian conference ministers (5 of them) saw it this way.
Also funny - this week has set record low temperatures for Florida! We have been sitting inside and reading a lot of the time - but hey, the view we have from our room is a beautiful ocean view of the Gulf of Mexico, framed by palm trees. If it is not too windy, we sit on the lounge chairs on our deck. For exercise we walk as far as we want on the white sand beach.
We are in Florida from November 30th to December 12th. Oh, by-the-way, since we were given an upgrade on the car rental, we chose to rent a Chrysler Sebring convertible. It was 80 F. when we arrived; actually, I'll translate all the temperatures in celcius. Our first day was 26 C. The second day peaked at 22, but we drove the whole afternoon with the top down - granted we put the heat on. Then the chill set in with daily highs of around 14. Besides the first 2 days, we have only put the top down a couple of times. But, we are in a warming trend. We drove with the top down this afternoon. It was really nice. Diane's dream is to actually have a convertible! Tomorrow and Saturday, our last 2 days here, the forecast is for the temperatures to be in the range of 20 - 23; absolutely top-down weather. 5 out of 12 days being convertible friendly, that's not bad for being in a record setting cold spell - but hey, we are Canadian. AND, THE FLORIDA SUN HAS BEEN BRIGHTLY SHINING EVERY DAY!
Our Beach
The View from which we read books on our bed
So, on to the promised topic - How much Christimas can there be in Florida or, how many things can be said about Christmas anyway? Diane loves endless Christmas, and I can appreciate that, but I need a break now and then - like from January to November. But even during December, no-stop is a bit much for me. While I am pretty good with it all, Diane is loving it. I mean, first of all, endless songs. In Vancouver there is a radio station that has committed all of its music, from at least the beginning of December, to be Christmas. Well here too - in St. Petersburg it is a Christian station that is solid Christmas music, and this is the only station available in our car - I mean, I dare not try another! Then the movies; how many Christmas movies are there? The Hallmark channel has Christmas movies all day long - although it sounds like there are many repeats. There's another channel that is doing the same. Since switching from meeting to vacation mode, we have watched a Christmas movie every night, usually 2 and I think even 3 one night. How many men are out there who really think they are Santa Claus - and actually turn out to be him? We have 3 nights left.
One of the largest Christmas light displays in America is right in St. Petersburg. This one takes a distinctly Christian angle on Christmas. In fact, it is a very evangelical emphasis, including a strong denouncement of other religions; for someone who believes relational evangelism is most effective, it would seem that this judgemental message isn’t helpful. But there we a lot of lights. See below.
I just found out the real meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas at our Sherbrooke Christmas banquet, then I heard a “Christianised” version on the radio here in Florida which included “5 shopping malls” and many other references to our commercialised North American Christmas - what a second rate version compared to the original! Take a look at what's behind this song...
From 1558 until 1829 CE, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.
Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.
1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Ghost: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
So there is your history lesson for today. I found this interesting and now I know how this “very strange” song became a Christmas carol.
To conclude my wondering about how much Christmas there can be in Florida - tonight, in 1/2 an hour, Diane and I are going to a Christmas bonfire on the beach put on by the local community; tomorrow after breakfast we are going to a Christmas parade; yesterday was the Jingle Bell Run in St. Petersburg (all the runners have bells around their ankles) and last Sunday was the Christmas Toy Run (This is a motorcycle ride that came right past our place, with many bikes and riders dressed up in Christmas decoration. There were 2000 - 45 minutes of watching. See my next blog with some pictures of the Toy Run.)
