Happy "Advent"

Today brings to mind an ancient footnote (and I mean a really small footnote) to our liturgical history. I thought I would share it with you.
Did you know that as far back as the late fourth and early fifth century, when the liturgical calendar was still in its developing stage and various local Churches were free to develop it as they saw fit, something that came to be called St. Martin's Lent emerged in some places. This seems to have started in some dioceses in France and then spread to dioceses in Germany. It lasted into the Middle Ages when it also spread to Britain. Then it died out.
At that time Christmas was finding its way onto our Church calendars and local Churches were beginning to precede it with a period of preparation. In some places that meant the days from December 17 to Christmas Eve.
However, some local Churches came to the conclusion that we should have a longer period of preparation, perhaps even a period as long as Lent. Calculating the days of Lent and the days leading up to Christmas, this period of preparation began on November 11. This was also the Feast of St. Martin of Tours.
Thus, the preparation for Christmas came to be called St. Martin's Lent.
And what a Lent this was!
Fasting every day of the week, except, of course, for Sundays. Wouldn't that sit well in our time with all those "Christmas" parties!
No parties - forbidden!
No dancing - forbidden!
It was a time that strongly emphasized getting ready - not so much for an historical recalling of a past event but very much as an anticipation of that final day, time unknown. Traces of this can still be found in many of our Scripture readings in these days.
However, in time St. Martin's Lent faded from the scene, though, I understand that there actually were some bishops at the Second Vatican Council who wanted to bring it back and make it universal. Needless to say that did not go very far.
In any event this is St. Martin's Day even though this year this is a Sunday and Sundays rule! But November 11 is St. Martin 's Day.
And if you really want to go back to our ancient traditions, welcome to St. Martin's Lent.
This was one of those items we learned about in those four years of study in the field of Liturgical Theology!
It doesn't have much practical use other than to show that change and growth and development are part of who we are as Church.
And now that you know this little item, you can dazzle someone at next week's Christmas Party by asking them, "How are you keeping St. Martin's Lent?" or "What did you give up for St. Martin's Lent?"
Let me know their response!