Dear Friends,
Christmas begins on December 25 (well, Dec. 24, I suppose!), as we all know. But it doesn’t have to end on December 26.
After Christmas Day come eleven more days of Christmastide, all capped off by the wonderful, mysterious, and really just very fun celebration of Epiphany on January 6 (or, in some churches, the closest Sunday to this date).
The more merriment, the merrier, I say!
Still, it’s no fun if celebrating this part of the season is just a burden, another stressful to-do on an already extensive “Christmas magic” list. Most of us are ready to burn such lists by New Year’s at the latest.
But some fun little things that help us remember the greatness of the Christmas feast by extending it can really be very nice. As Christmas grows near, I have a few small ideas from last year to share!
Read my peppy little suggestions here:
“5 Ways to Celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas.”
Do you celebrate a twelve-day Christmastide, or do you prefer to live it up mainly in December? Or do you even follow the Old Calendar, extending Christmas all the way to February 2?
Warmly yours,
we’re totally old calendar! i love its extended times of feasting that really allows the soul and mind to sink into the mysteries, beyond even the moment of exterior celebration.
My friend has wonderful childhood memories of a huge Epiphany party every year at her (Lutheran) pastor’s home. All the families would come and the kids were allowed to stay up until midnight. We’d love to start a tradition like that in our community at some point.