Do you celebrate the 12 days of Christmas?
The twelve days of Christmas are steeped in tradition and superstition. Much of the fault lays with the commercialization of this Holiday. The original twelve days of Christmas began on Christmas day the 25th of December. Advent on the other hand began on the Sunday which fell between November 27 and December 3. This calendar is used to mark the coming celebration of the Christmas holidays. Lift the flap and discover a candy or item depicting one day closer to Christmas. The Germans are also credited for this tradition, dating back to the 19th century. The twelve days starting on the day after Christmas each depicts a celebration of its own. December 26th is called St. Stephen’s day, being the first of the twelve days of Christmas. Stephen was one of the first people anointed by the apostles as a deacon, in charge of the poor and widows of the church. He was the first to be martyred for the cause of Christ. This day is also called Boxing day, where the servants received gifts or boxes from their employers, and boxes were also given to the poor. The second day of the twelve days of Christmas is St. John’s day, because he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy. The 28th is the day of innocents, remembering all the children killed by Herod the king in his efforts to stop the birth of the Messiah. While these children were not martyrs like Stephen, they did die for the cause of Christ. It is also a time today when people remember victims of abortion, war and abuse. Naming day is when at eight days old, as per Jewish custom, the baby was taken to the Synagogue to be circumcised and named. (He was named Jesus per the instructions of the angel to Mary before conception). The Holiday concludes on twelfth night when the wise (Magi) found Jesus in the manger and presented their gifts to him. My point is, this Holiday which has been ravaged by commercialism was to celebrate the birth of Christ and the effects he had, and still has on the world. I am sure many of you have seen buttons, and slogans that encourage you to make, “Jesus the reason for the season.” I hope this becomes your mantra and you embrace it in your home. Without his birth, there is no Holiday called Christmas!
As parents it is important to focus on the gift God, (because of his great love for us), gave his son, to be born in a lowly estate, and become a perfect sacrifice for our sins. It is the reason for the season. Read the recorded chronical of the birth of Christ in the Bible, to your children, making it the Holiday it should be for them.
We as writers need to remind the public of the true meaning of Christmas in our writings. It is becoming more vague to the public, year after year. Let us do our part to keep; JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Matthew 2:1
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:21