Many of us are familiar with this traditional Christmas song, yet many of us are unaware of its significance to the church. In his essay, Dennis Bratcher explains the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas as it relates to the church. In the Western church, the twelve days of Christmas begins on Christmas day (December 25), and ends on January 5, the day before Epiphany (January 6). In some cultures, the twelve days are counted from December 26 and ends on January 6 to include Epiphany. Regardless of how the twelve days are counted, the fact remains that Christmas was celebrated as a season, and not just one day.
As a Spiritual teacher within the Christian faith, I have great admiration for traditions that honor our Lord - Jesus Christ; however, since my spiritual beliefs tend to be more nature-based than church-dictated, I prefer to start counting the twelve days of Christmas from December 21 (the winter solstice) and end it on January 1 (New Years day). The reason why I start on December 21 and not on December 25 is because I want to honor the God of winter - Jesus Christ- for bringing an end to the lengthening nights, and for the gradually increasing daylight throughout the winter months. I end the celebration on January 1, to give thanks for the new year which has started.
Biblically speaking, the new year really does not start on January 1, as January 1st , as the start of the new year, is a construct of the Roman/Gregorian calendar. The natural new year of nature, starts in the spring, which is the time when the earth is renewed and revived from the sleep and death of winter. The astronomical event - the vernal equinox- marks the beginning of Spring, and the start of the natural year and the religious calendar of the Bible. In the fall, another new year is celebrated and recognized by the Bible as well. The new year celebrations of the fall season, which was known as the Feast of Trumpets in the Bible, but is now called Rosh Hashanah by modern-day Jews, marks the beginning of the Biblical civil new year, and occurs around the time of the atumunal equinox, and the sighting of the new moon. I however also celebrate January 1 as the new year because we are following the Gregorian calendar, which is what we are using to count time in our secular world. Alas! I now have three calendars to keep abreast with - the Hebrew civil calendar, the Hebrew religious calendar/natural year calendar, and the Roman/Gregorian calendar! How do I keep it all together? It is not as hard as some may believe. The Hebrew religious calendar follows the natural cycle of the seasons of the year. It is based upon the natural cycles of the sun and moon in the counting of days, months, and years. The Hebrew civil calendar starts on the seventh month of the religious/natural calendar, and coincides with the religious celebration called the Feast of Trumpets in the Bible, or Rosh Hashanah by modern Jews. After that day, I am no more concerned about the Hebrew civil calendar until the next Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashannah, when the Biblical civil year starts all over again. The reason I am not concerned about the Hebrew civil calendar for the rest of the year is because it is not used for any civil purposes within our society. It was used by the Jews back then to mark time, but even for the Jews, the religious holy days and feast days were based upon the natural year/religious calendar. For my daily secular activities, I follow the Gregorian calendar, because that is what our society uses, and if I want to keep abreast of what is going on in our world, then I would be in peril to ignore it.
So, enjoy the twelve days of Christmas, any way you choose to celebrate them, as long as God is honored. Let there be peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Let us not just limit Christmas to a day, or even to a season, but let the hope, peace, and love of Christmas spread out throughout the coming year.
Happy Kwanza! Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New year!
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4 comments:
For me, celebrating Christmas on December 25, just because we have been told to do so by the traditional church hierachy, is so unnatural for me. It seems so artificially contrived. When I do however make a spiritual connection between God and the seasons of nature, it is then, and only then, that I can truly celebrate Christ's birth in the Christmas season, as the light that shines upon the dark world of winter (and sin).
The Hebrew civil calendar plays a major role in civil matters and in the calculation of the sabbath years/year of Jubilee, reign of kings, birth days, and general civil matters. The religious calendar was more in tune with nature and the seasons.
Very nice post. I agree with so much you have shared. I would point out another observance: the octave of Christmas, which falls on Jan. 1st, can be tied into your twelve days.
And, as for setting the date of Christmas, I recently came across this article which attempts to explain the choice:
"How December 25 Became Christmas" - Biblical Archaeology Review
It boils down to the belief that Christ died on the very day he was conceived, which says much for pro-life positions, if nothing else.
Peace of the season be yours.
Teresa,
Thanks for the references. I was not aware of all the different celebrations centered around Christmas practiced by the church. Very interesting... I however like to keep things simple, and focused upon happenings in God's (natural) world :-)
It must be for a reason why God kept the date of Christ's birth a secret - a secret we may never know. The year we know, based upon the wise men's observance of the star, and the age of Jesus at His baptism, but the exact time of year we do not know. The setting of the date of Christ's birth is pure speculation, but I am glad for the time to celebrate His birth.
I personally do not think it matters much what time of year we choose to celebrate Christ's birth.
The wise men celebrated His birth at the time they found Him, when He was a "young child", as He was no longer a new born baby when they arrived. In the same way, we celebrate His birth at Christmas, as the time we choose to celebrate, and not to say that He was born then.
Does not Christmas bring joy and much cheer to an otherwise cold and drab winter? I think it is the perfect time for this sort of celebration.
Peace and blessings,
Hillary
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