What are the 12 Days of Christmas? And how to celebrate them

Probably one of the highlights of elementary school music class at Christmastime for me was singing the 12 Days of Christmas, as fast and as loud as the teacher would let us. It was always fun, even if I had no idea what we were talking about.

As an adult, I still had very little idea as to what this song meant. What are the 12 days of Christmas and what woman wants all those partridges (not to mention the drumming drummers) from a suitor? So, one late winter evening, Google and I went on a quest to find out. With a quiet house and hot tea, we set out.

After quite a bit of reading, I found that the song itself was hotly disputed, with some saying it was just a song created hundreds of years ago and used as part of a game on Twelfth Night, with no hidden meaning; while others say that it related back to different religious tenets and used by young Catholics in England as a catechism song when they couldn’t practice their faith openly.

While down that rabbit hole, I came across some information about the significance of each of those 12 days. Up until then, I had never really known when they took place (during Advent? after?) or what happened on them. So, I refilled my tea and read on.

If you’ve ever been curious as to the actual 12 days of Christmas, here is a basic breakdown:

• Day 1 (December 25^th): Christmas Day
• Day 2(December 26^th): St. Stephen’s Day, the first Christian martyr
• Day 3 (December 27^th): St. John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ disciples
• Day 4 (December 28^th): The Feast of the Holy Innocents, in honor of the babies King Herod had killed in his attempt to kill Jesus
• Day 5 (December 29^th): St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by the king in 1170
• Day 6 (December 30^th): St. Egwin of Worcester
• Day 7 (December 31^st): New Year’s Eve
• Day 8 (January 1^st): Mary, the mother of Jesus
• Day 9 (January 2^nd): St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, important Christians in the 4^th century
• Day 10 (January 3^rd): Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, celebrating Jesus’ official naming in the temple
• Day 11 (January 4^th): The Feast of St. Simon Stylites and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint
• Day 12 (January 5^th): Epiphany Eve; St. John Neumann, the first American bishop
• Epiphany (January 6^th): celebrating the Wise Men’s visit to Jesus

Still with me?

If, like me, you have little experience with saints, some of these days may be a mystery. But what struck me as I read about the this wasn’t so much the traditions across the world or the saints being honored, but the fact that this was a celebration of Christmas, of Jesus’ birth.

I have always seen Christmas Day as the celebration and the rest of December and onward as a bit of a letdown. But, in reality, Advent is a time to prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus’ birth, and the 12 days leading up to Epiphany are a time to celebrate and meditate on that birth.

This has really changed the way that my family and I look at the days following Christmas. My kids (ahem, and their mom) no longer mope at the end of the day on the 25th because they know that it doesn’t just end there.

Trying to find traditions that both represent the original celebrations and appeal to children wasn’t easy. Like anything, it sometimes takes a little trial and error to get to the point where you can engage the entire family while still celebrating the event.

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If you’re looking for some simple, family-friendly ways to enjoy the 12 days of Christmas, here are some suggestions:

1. Reading. You can read one Christmas book a day, or find ones that are specific to the focus of each particular day. This is one my kids really like.

2. Cookies. Since baking is something kids usually love taking part in, making something special each day is a great way to celebrate. 

3. Small presents. Epiphany marks the arrival of the Wise Men, and since they came with gifts, you can present some of your own to your children, or have them give some to each other. Just something small, like a little toy or card, to open each day as you get closer to January 6^th.
4. Candles. We always have a ton of number candles for the numerous birthdays we celebrate here each year, so 12 days of cupcakes is right up our alley. If you have some, too, you can place the candle of the day in a cupcake and light it. After briefly explaining what the day symbolizes, have the kids blow it out. 

5. Art. Creating something unique, or printing out coloring pages or a coloring book (like this one) can give everyone a chance to decorate each day of Christmas. If your kids love the song, this could be extra fun for them. 

6. Service. Twelve days of service projects definitely keeps our hearts in the right place. They don’t necessarily have to be big ones, but something the family can do together. 

7. 

   Explore. See what families in other countries are doing to celebrate. Interested in wassailing? Read about how those in the UK do it and when here.

 Celebrating the 12 days of Christmas can be a fun and festive time for our families. We are, after all, reflecting on one of the most joyous events in history.

So whether you want to serve food to the poor on Day 2 or give your children five golden rings on Day 5, and whether Epiphany is a single day or lasts for a season, gathering your family close and putting your heart and mind in a place where they can clearly see the wonder of this season is the most important part.

Merry Christmas!

 

Do you do anything special for the 12 days of Christmas? What are your favorite ways to celebrate this part of the season?

 

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