Everyone is familiar with the song about the 12 days of Christmas, but many don’t know the meaning of 12 days of Christmas or even that celebrating 12 days of Christmas is truly a tradition.
12 days of Christmas…
Legend has it that the 12 days of Christmas began as a tradition as Christians lit candles for Christ for 12 days preceding the holiday.
Some say that the 12 days of Christmas is a spin off of the pagan Festival of Lights in which the Roman’s lit candles to honor the sun.
Another version of the story explaining the origin of the 12 days of Christmas says it mimics the European celebration of Winter Solstice with a countdown to the new year. Some versions of the celebration were intended to drive away evil spirits before the new year.
Christian influence to the tradition of 12 days of Christmas deals primarily with the season of Epiphany, though Christians in many cultures aren’t familiar with it. In some religious practices, the 12 days of Christmas actually begins on December 25th, Christmas day and ends on January 5th, the eve of Epiphany which is the climax of the season — January 6th. Epiphany is representative of the wise men coming to see Jesus.
Did you know?The gifts mentioned in the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas” may have symbolic biblical meaning that support the beliefs of the Catholic faith.
Some protestant churches recognize the Epiphany season as starting on January 6th and ending on Ash Wednesday after which the season of Lent begins and then ends on Easter.
The 12 days of Christmas is certainly one of the most confusing facets of history, legend and religion to trace.
