There are many rich parts of Christian tradition that for one reason or another didn’t continue past the Protestant Reformation in the 1600s and one of those is the celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas lasting from December 26-January 6 which is Epiphany. During these 12 days, which were intended to represent the journey of the wise man or magi and they traveled to see the baby Jesus, several feasts were held and Christmas celebrations continued. These celebrations were dating back as far as the 5th century and could be a way for your household to keep up the celebration of the birth and incarnation of Jesus for a while longer as we move into the new calendar year.

Check out some of the ideas and practices below for ways you and your family can enjoy all 12 Days of Christmas this year!

December 26 - The feast of St. Stephen is celebrated in honor of Stephen, the first martyr, who was introduced to us in the book of Acts as a man of great character who was chosen to care for the neglected widows. On this feast day, it was a tradition to give your Christmas meal leftovers to those who are hungry or in need. Perhaps this would be a time for your household to consider how you can serve those in need in this upcoming year. A list of local ministries are included in the resources below.

December 27 – The feast of St. John is celebrated in honor of the disciple, John, who was traditionally believed to be the only disciple not martyred but rather exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. John was the disciple who Jesus asked to care for Mary when he was on the cross. This would be a good day to reflect on the blessing of family and consider how we might care for one another in the upcoming year.

December 28 – On this day, the traditional celebration is actually a commemoration of the “Holy Innocents” or the children who died when Herod tried to find and kill Jesus as a child (Mt. 2:16-18). A sober day, those who observed this day would use it as a time to celebrate the young people who were choosing to go into ministry. This would be an opportune time for us to pray for and lift up the children and youth we know and love as they move into a new year; that God would guide them, direct them, and be present with them as they grow.

December 29 – 31 – While there are no traditional celebrations or feasts on these days, the celebration and commemoration of the magi’s journey continued to be observed. Over the these days, consider creating a “Journey Jar” for 2023. Get a large jar, cut up some strips of paper and get some special pens and throughout your journey next year, write down blessings, answers to prayer, joys, challenges, special memories, etc. and put them in the jar. Next December 29-31, dump out the jar and take time to read your personal or your household’s journey through the year, reflecting on the faithfulness of God.

January 1 – Traditionally, on this day, in addition to welcoming the new calendar year, the church would celebrate Jesus’ visit to the temple for circumcision where he was also met by Simeon and Anna who celebrated this newborn king and Messiah of Israel. Take some time today to read Luke 2:22-38 and be reminded that God is faithful to fulfill His promises to us in His time and His way.

January 2-5 – This is a continued time of celebration and feasting. As you put away gifts and begin to move in the direction of “normal life”, take time to move slowly and preciously. Consider reading the story of the wise men and their travel (Matthew 2:1-12). Check out this website for some fun “facts” and stories about these three kings: https://www.whychristmas.com/story/wisemen

January 6 – Epiphany! Also known as the Twelfth Night, this is the day we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men to see Jesus. The significance is greater than just a friendly visit; it represents the fact that Jesus was not just the Messiah for the Jewish people but the Savior of the world, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. In this visit, we understand that Jesus was God’s expression of Love for all of us. Traditional celebratory practices include baking a Kings' Cake (see recipe below), marking a door lintel with the Magi's blessing (see example below), and elaborating worship with lighted candles

I once heard it said that “the church today knows how to party but it has forgotten how to celebrate.” The intentional celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas are one way we can more fully embrace the birth and incarnation of Jesus and make our Christmas less of a party and more of a celebration of the coming of Christ.

The resources below offer more explanation and ideas on how to celebrate.

Articles

• Twelve Days of Christmas, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas

• The 12 Days of Christmas, https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/12-days-of-christmas

• Epiphany (holiday), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)

Crafts/Activities

• Kings Cake recipe, https://www.momlovesbaking.com/easy-king-cake/

• The Chalking of the Doors (Magi’s Blessing), https://onepeterfive.com/the-chalking-of-the-doors-an-epiphany-tradition-explained/

• “Look at that Star!” Craft Ideas for Epiphany, https://ministry-to-children.com/epiphany-craft-ideas/

• Epiphany Celebration Ideas for Families and Churches, Multiple Ideas and Information about Epiphany, https://www.faithward.org/epiphany-celebration-ideas-for-families-and-churches/

Local Ministries

• Revive Lifehouse, https://revivelifehouse.org/

• Seedleaf, https://www.seedleaf.org/

• Kentucky Refugee Ministries, https://kyrm.org/

• Lexington Rescue Mission, https://lexingtonrescue.org/