On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me….
As a child, I often wondered about the days of Christmas. When were they? Did the days begin in Advent… counting down the days to Christmas? I never thought it could mean the days after Christmas, because we all knew that Christmas runs from the Day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. After Christmas comes New Years Eve. The days following contained a post-holiday exhaustion that always seemed to linger for a few weeks, until we geared up our anticipation of the Super Bowl parties, followed by Valentine’s Day.
As a child, I often wondered about the days of Christmas. When were they? Did the days begin in Advent… counting down the days to Christmas? I never thought it could mean the days after Christmas, because we all knew that Christmas runs from the Day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. After Christmas comes New Years Eve. The days following contained a post-holiday exhaustion that always seemed to linger for a few weeks, until we geared up our anticipation of the Super Bowl parties, followed by Valentine’s Day.
After I grew up, I learned that the Twelve Days of Christmas referred to the church Christmas season – December 25 through January 5—culminating in the Epiphany on Jan 6. I know I probably should have learned this in CCE as a child, but for whatever reason it didn’t stick in my mind.
Since Christmas Day, my daughters and I have spontaneously broken out in song each day. Without planning it in advance, we only sing the lyric that begins with that day, caroling down to “…partridge in a pear tree.” And then it’s over; just a simple moment between us.
To recognize this 12th Day of Christmas, please take a moment (or three) to enjoy this delightfully unique performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser from 1998.
Please don’t forget to pop over to our Give This Christmas Away post and leave us a comment to enter the drawing for a copy of Matthew West’s book. #92 references the 12th day of Christmas also, but you’ll have to get a copy to read it and plan how to implement it over the coming year.
