NOVENA starts tonight

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As a primarily Catholic country, Colombia celebrates the holiday season with many Catholic traditions. One such tradition is the NOVENA. While here in the US many people celebrate 12 days of Christmas, in Colombia the Novena is 9 nights long. It starts on the 16th of December and ends on the 24th. That makes tonight the start of the NOVENA. Not being Catholic, I am unsure of the details. However, if you are a Catholic family with Colombian children this could be a great way to incorporate Colombian tradition in your home. Here is an interesting link on Catholic.net that seems to indicate which prayers are to be said on each of the nine nights (In Spanish).


Here it is in English:


Again, as a non-Catholic family, we have decided to create our own Christmas Novena. It helps us focus on the true meaning of the Christmas season and gives us a connection to our Christian, our American, and our Colombian Heritage. Over the next few days, I will share our ideas with you so that perhaps if you are not Catholic and you are interested in implementing a Novena in your family, this approach might be helpful.

December 16

Scriptural Basis -- Luke 1:39-56 -- Mary leaves to visit her cousin Elizabeth

Message -- Discuss the importance of our extended family in strengthening and supporting us.

Activity -- Prepare and send Christmas cards to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

This is also the night that we begin to move the 3 Kings closer to the manger.


Comments

Anonymous said…
You missed one of the most important things of the Novena. The food! There is no good Novena without natilla and bunuelos!!
November 2, 2012 at 2:54 PM
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