You have heard the song many times. Did you ever wonder what it’s all about?
It’s December 26th. The gifts are unwrapped, the family is going home (maybe?) and you are about to put away the decorations. WAIT!!! Christmas is not over yet. It’s only the second day of Christmas, we have 10 more to go!
Is there a meaning behind the lyrics? Absolutely! In England from 1558-1829, Catholics were banned from practicing their faith. So, they made up songs to teach the stories and Catechism to the children. The song sounds like nonsense, but it includes all the major teachings of the Catholic church. So for example, the two turtle doves refers to the Old and the New testament. Clever, right?
The 12 days of Christmas begin on December 25th and go until the feast of the Epiphany (the arrival of the wise men) on January 6th. Depending on your culture, you may even give and receive gifts on January 6th. A 12 day celebration sounds amazing.
Christmas is not about one day. It’s about celebrating the one who came to save us. If you only spend one day reflecting on that, what do you reflect upon for the other 364 days?
There is still time to celebrate and ponder. For the next 10 days, give it a whirl. It doesn’t even have to be in a grand way. Research the song, or play a game before you do it to guess what the numbers are about. (Day 4- the 4 gospels). Whether you celebrate for one day or twelve, remember that the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus.
