The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Reflection
It is an odd choice, yet everyone knows the twelve days of Christmas. Do you know why there are twelve days? For centuries Christians have celebrated 12 days of Christmas, from Christmas day, December 25 through the twelve night before Epiphany (when we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men) January 6. Some traditions have variations on this
timing but still maintain the twelve days. It is called
Christmastide or Twelvetide which has drifted from
understanding in the United States partially because the Christmas shopping season ends on the first day of
Christmastide. So, why go on and on about a
tradition that is all but forgotten? When we narrow the work of God in Jesus Christ to one day of the year we miss the point. We often bend our celebration of Christ’s
arrival to be about us. Christmas is a special celebration both of Christ’s first coming and His return. We cannot just thank God one time a year, but we must continually thank God for his continuing work among us through Jesus Christ. This year how can you think differently about Christmas and what it really means to you?
