Growing up, I always thought that the 12 Days of Christmas was the period of time we spent going to the mall to make sure we had gifts for everyone for our Christmas Eve celebration. Now that we attend a liturgical church, I understand that Christmastide (also called Twelvetide) actually begins on Christmas Day and lasts until January 6. But what is the origin of this special time of year, and why/how is it celebrated?
The annual liturgical Advent season is the four weeks before Christmas when Christians prepare their hearts and minds for the arrival of Jesus.Then, on December 25, the season of Christmastide begins with the Feast of the Nativity (Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem) and ends with the feast of the Epiphany (or the Feast of the Three Kings) on January 6. These 12 Days are celebrated mostly by liturgical Christian denominations such as Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Lutherans. In addition to commemorating the gift of Jesus and how others celebrated him over 2,000 years ago, each day honors a certain saint in church history or is a day for sacred reflection.
Since we don’t find mention of this time in the Bible, we have to wonder who initiated the practice of honoring Christmastide. We need to start with the “Council of Tours” which was an occasional medieval Roman Catholic gathering of bishops who would create rules for the worldwide Church. They would meet together in Tours, a city in France. Specifically, in 567, the Council of Tours "proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast,” according to the article “The 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics: Meaning and History”.
Christmastide begins on December 25 and ends on January 6 and there are key events and observances during each day during Christmastide. If we review the Anglican Church calendar as an example, this is what we could expect to be commemorated during this time (information provided by Anglican Compass:
13. The Feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6)
Days that do not commemorate people are days of personal prayer and reflection.
Celebration is the main theme of Christmastide, as there is so much to acknowledge about the gift of the incarnation of Jesus. In Bible reading, prayers and songs, we have many opportunities to thank God for sending Jesus to earth to “share our human nature, to live and die as one of us and to reconcile us to you, the God and father of all,” as it says in the Episcopal Church’s communion prayers. We can appreciate the love that made all of that possible and share that love with one another. Christmastide also reminds us of the hope and joy we have as we look forward to an eternity that Christ made available through his sacrifice.
Another key theme is ensuring that we keep Christ in Christmas. The unsaved world would rather we focus on the consumerism of the season, since they don’t have the hope of Christ. The creation of Black Friday shopping (the day after Thanksgiving), and the number of commercials and advertising that promote gift-buying, is overwhelming. And greeting each other with “Merry Christmas” is being edged out by “Happy Holidays” in recent years–further proof that without Jesus at the center of the celebration, all one is left with is a pile of gifts that can’t compare with the eternal treasure he offers.
If we use the Anglican Church again as an example, there are special services on the two bookend holidays, and special prayer services or suggested readings on other days. Many churches will have a Christmas pageant or nativity play that is a live-action recreation of the 12 days of Christmas–from Jesus’ birth until the visit of the Three Wise Men. A children’s version of the pageant can be especially impactful for kids who are able to act the part of someone who was present at the birth of Christ.
Some families may choose to hold back on gifts until the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, choosing instead to celebrate Jesus’ “birthday” with special treats. The church doesn’t require this, but it can be a way to keep minds on our Savior, especially the minds of little ones who may get too caught up in gift-getting.
Since the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” is so familiar to people of all ages, one activity that families can take part in is learning the meaning behind the song. Again, the Christianity.com article lists what each day represents in the Christian faith. It notes that “...most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings. Originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, this song was transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the 12 days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs.” For example, “four calling birds” would have been code for the four gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The “ten lords a-leaping” referred to the Ten Commandments. “As lords were judges and in charge of the law, this code for the Ten Commandments was fairly straightforward to Christians.”
Before this article, I was fairly unfamiliar with the meaning and purpose of the 12 Days of Christmas, both the season and the song. I think it is an excellent time to recommit our lives to the Lord and deepen our faith by taking part in extra church services, readings and programs.
Also, I plan to use the song as a sort of personal study this year. Each day I can read through what the days symbolize and then choose to read more about a particular “day.” For instance, I can study the differences between the four gospel writers and how that impacted what they chose to include in their writing. I can also pray through the Ten Commandments each day and ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I have fallen short, especially in relation to others, and ask for his forgiveness and restoration. Or perhaps I will take a deep dive into the Apostles Creed. I can learn more about when it was written and by whom and use the Creed as a devotional; each day, I can study one portion of it and meditate on it with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Christmastide is a beautiful extension of Christmas, giving us time to reflect on the joy and significance of Jesus’ birth beyond just one day. Embracing this season allows us to keep celebrating His coming and to deepen our gratitude for God’s love. Whether through prayer, time with loved ones, or serving others, Christmastide invites us to carry the spirit of Christmas into our lives in a meaningful way.
All in all, I will be sharing more than gifts in December. I will be celebrating with my family the entire Christmastide season, and share with them the hope, joy, and peace that can only be found in spending extended time reveling in Jesus’ birth. I hope this exploration of Christmastide will help you do the same with your family this Christmas season.
Further Reading:
The 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics: Meaning and History
The Joy of Christmas is Far from Over
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Winyuu
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).