The Christmas celebration's true span is from the 25th up until the sixth of January, or the Epiphany, when the Magi kings arrived to the manger enable to present the baby Jesus with gifts. My family has always, as long as I can recall, celebrated all twelve days as opposed to abandoning our tree and putting away the manger by the 26th or 27th. Unfortunatly, as of yet, I know of no other family that celebrates the twelve days. Instead, for all other families I've had contact with, Christmas is over by the 26th, which has always left me feeling a bit...Lonely, I suppose, hence bringing me to my question. Is there anyone out there that celebrates the twelve days? I appreciate your time, and happy third day of Christmas!
2006-12-27 10:42:45 · 6 answers · asked by Mave 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
We do! Although, it's in a sort of "homegrown" way! I understand the feeling of being the only ones still celebrating after the 25th! For us, we have "theme days." The 26th is "Sharing Day" where we share what we have with others less fortunate. Whether it is toys, food for our church's pantry, clothes, money given to a favorite charity, even helping out family & friends who have hit upon hard times. We also have a day we call "The Animals' Christmas" and give little gifts to the family pets as well as set out treats for the backyard birds & squirrels. We have a "Book Night" with a book gift. We have "Cookie Day" which came about because I could never get the Christmas cookies baked before the 25th, but now, it's a tradition my boys look forward to every Dec. 28th! We also have "Brother Day" on the 3rd of Jan. - that's when my boys exchange their gifts to each other - and they don't get lost in the Christmas morning rush. We have a "Memory Night" - a night for scrapbooks, photo albums, home movies, & popcorn - sometimes, I make it a project night - this year we put together pictures in a collage frame of a trip to the beach last summer. We also have a day for "Christmas in another place or time" - Which could be Christmas - Medieval style, or a Colonial or Pioneer Christmas or even Christmas done the way their grandparents did. OR it could be Christmas in another country - this year it's Liberia for us or even Christmas in another part of our own country. New Year's Eve, we turn our tree into a New Year's tree, watch the last sunset of the year, have a glo stick hunt in the yard or house & stomp on bubble wrap, pop a few firecrackers at my in-laws and on New Year's Day, eat "lucky foods!" I guess you get the idea by now! On 12th night, they get one last gift and then we have donuts decorated with purple, yellow & green sprinkles for Three King's Day & take down the tree & other decorations. I hope you have a wonderful day today & Merry Christmas!
2006-12-30 04:54:17 · answer #1 · answered by anjo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO, and here's why:
Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th?
As the Roman Empire spread into Persian lands, soldiers encountered stories of the god Mithra. Long associated with the coming of the new dawn, Mithra was adopted by some as the new Roman sun god. Worship to him, Mithraism, became an official religion of the Empire and was most popular from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD.
Because he was the new Roman Sun god, Mithra's birthday now was associated with the Winter Solstice. Consequently, the Saturnalia was replaced with celebrations to Mithra. Some scholars contend that the original 12 Days of Christmas referred to those 12 days between Mithra's birthday on December 21st and New Years Day, January 1st.
2006-12-27 18:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by watcherd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Our family always has. We don't do anything special for most of the days, except maybe indulge in extra goodies like home-made cookies and eggnog. However, we do light the tree each night, and keep the creche lit around the clock. We do a special dinner for Epiphany, though not as fancy as Christmas Day. We also keep the creche up until Candlemas (2 February), when we replace it with fresh flowers.
2006-12-27 22:51:45 · answer #3 · answered by JelliclePat 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to the Orthodox Church, the Nativity is on Jan. 6.
I'm not a Christian, and not even religious, and I don't have a family. Yet I do celebrate the "Twelve Days of Christmas" because it gives me occasion to feel happier for a longer period of time.
May the times be glad for you.
2006-12-27 18:51:05 · answer #4 · answered by tlakkamond 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Although I do not celebrate it, I have learned much about it. In the Middle Ages this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season. Twelfth Night itself was forever solidified in pop culture when William Shakespeare used it as setting for one of his most famous stage plays.
2006-12-28 02:55:59 · answer #5 · answered by Nuttie Nettie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pagan and we celebrate the 5 days from Yule to Christmas. There are 5 elements...it works for us...
2006-12-27 18:52:17 · answer #6 · answered by TiGeR 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋