Crism

It's around this time of year that I like to indulge myself and explain #crism. Its roots lie in the far off time when Charlie was small and just starting to speak, every time she saw Father Christmas, she would point and yell enthusiastically "CRISM! CRISM!" And, in the way of parents everywhere, we adopted Charlie's burgeoning vocabulary into our family pidgin.

Many years later, I used the word to describe what I considered to be the acceptable period of Christmas celebration. It's pretty generous, actually, running from December the first, through to January the fifth (although, strictly speaking, there should be a wind down in Crism-oriented activity from Boxing Day onwards).

Crism should not just be viewed as a period of permission, it also has an element of obligation; during this period you should be playing Christmas music, eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine. Decorations can go up anytime after the first, and Christmas jumpers may be worn (but not comedy antlers, unless under exceptional circumstances). 

Whilst the perceived pressures of modern life may dictate that Christmas shopping has to start prior to the first, wrapping should only start on or after this date. Shops will, of course, be selling presents, but should avoid decorating themselves in a festive manner before Crism. Christmas decorations ought not to appear on the shelves much in advance of the latter half of November.

See, just a few simple rules, and we can all enjoy Christmas without any of those Grinchy feelings brought on by Christmas advertising appearing September. 

Funnily enough, the festive fun of Crism brought about my first Twitter disagreement. A gentleman, apparently of the Roman Catholic persuasion, took exception to me using Crism on the grounds that, firstly, it sounds too much like Chrism* and, secondly, that the Christmas period is already defined by Advent (which, of course, it is not).

I remember being a little upset by the exchange, although I maintained a cheerful and whimsical façade. Still, it was nothing compared to the intolerable trolling - introllerable, if you will - that goes on these days. But you'll be pleased to hear that we didn't block one another or even 'unfollow'. In fact, we've even chatted once or twice since. such is the redemptive power of Crism!

* "Chrism is made of olive oil and is scented with a sweet perfume, usually balsam. Under normal circumstances, chrism is consecrated by the bishop of the particular church in the presence of the presbyterium at the Mass of the Chrism, which takes place in the morning of Holy Thursday." Who knew? (Apart from Catholics.)