TLDR: Welcome to the season of Christmastide! Let’s glorify our Lord and rejoice in His birth.
By the time you read this Christmas 2023 is a memory.
One of my favorite things to do is take a walk around the neighborhood on the mornings after Christmas. Family stories of their holiday festivities are shared- without uttering a word. Nestled next to the street, garbage receptacles are most often piled high. Empty toy boxes, cartons of all shapes and sizes, and masses of trash bags line the curb. Occasionally left in the gutter are sparkly bows and frayed ribbons. Just like that, all of the planning, decisions, wrapping, traveling, cooking, phone calls, daily package delivery tracking, is complete and Christmas is all over.
Or is it?
One more reason why I love our faith tradition is our celebration continues!
Sure, you’ve heard the song, “12 days of Christmas” a jillion times by now but did you know that the “12 days of Christmas” actually start on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and go until the day before Epiphany (Jan. 5)?
What?????
So, December 25 is the first day of Christmas. December 26 is the second day. And so on, until the twelfth day of Christmas on January 5, followed by the feast of the Epiphany on January 6!
We celebrate C H R I S T M A S T I D E!
Christmastide is the liturgical season that spans from the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (which we commonly call Christmas day, Dec. 25) to Epiphany Eve (Jan. 5, commonly called Twelfth Night—yes, like the Shakespeare play).
Here are the 12 days. Days in bold are the Holy Days observed by our Episcopal Church.
1.The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Dec. 25, one of seven Principal Feasts)
2.Stephen, Deacon, and Martyr (Dec. 26)
3.John, Apostle, and Evangelist (Dec. 27)
4.The Holy Innocents (Dec. 28)
5.Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170 (Dec. 29)
6.December 30
7.(Dec. 31)
8.The Circumcision and Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Jan. 1)
9.January 2
10.January 3
11.Elizabeth Ann Seton, Vowed Religious and Educator 1821 (Jan. 4)
12.Epiphany Eve & Sarah, Theodora & Syncletica of Egypt, Desert Mothers 4th/5th century
(Jan. 5)
Being such an incredibly diverse congregation, I certainly recognize differing traditions may celebrate additional feasts or remembrances throughout this season.
And for you who enjoy knowing a piece of the history, Christmastide, began as early as 567 A.D. The church began formally setting aside the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany as both a sacred and festive season with Advent as a special time of fasting in preparation of the feast. If you want to know more about feasts and holy days in the church calendar, open your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) to pages 15-33.
Remember dear St. Dunstan’s family, it’s still time to celebrate! This round of celebrations is slightly different. Celebrate the freshness of the new. Celebrate with deep breaths and quiet prayers of gratitude. Now is the time to rest. Let’s glorify our Lord and rejoice in His birth. Bring in 2024 with a deep sense of knowing you are deeply loved.
Rejoice and rest.
Rev. Leesa +
