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The Real J6
In some parts of the world, people are celebrating Christmas today. While most Americans tossed out the Christmas Tree at New Years, some still recognize the 12th Day of Christmas (or Epiphany).
Growing up, my mother would have the wisemen begin wandering the house on Christmas Day. We’d start every day of Christmas hunting down their newest location until they finally arrived at the manger bed.
We would receive one last Christmas gift for the last day and close out the season of feasting.
So Happy 12th Day of Christmas and Happy Epiphany to you all!
Published in General
The 7th is Orthodox Christmas.
We would never put away the Christmas decorations until the weekend after the Epiphany.
So…elf on a shelf has an precedent?
Part of my family was Greek Orthodox – we got to celebrate twice
When I was 7 – 8 years old (1963-64) my California-based family spent a year in Naples, Italy (my father had a visiting professorship at an engineering school there). My brother and I got two sets of Christmas gifts! Our American parents didn’t want to deprive us the normal American Christmas, so we got gifts on December 25. But they also wanted us to participate in the local cultural practice of gifting on Epiphany (January 6). So we got gifts on both December 25 and January 6. Happiness for 7 year old me and my 5 year old brother.
Some Orthodox celebrate on January 7th. Others, like in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, celebrate on December 25th. I know that some OCA parishes also celebrate on 12/25, but I don’t know if the whole OCA does.
Yes, it’s a bit of a mess. :)
And some still hold Christmastide to last until the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (February 2). Don’t know if they leave the tree up until them.
I wish my parents had talked to your mom. This sounds like a blast.
Our United Methodist church’s sanctuary decor group ensures the manger scene at the front of the sanctuary does not contain the baby Jesus until Christmas Eve, and the wise men are in various ever changing other places around the sanctuary until the Sunday on which we celebrate Epiphany.
Hmmm. I guess that explains why my neighbour still has his tree up. We thought they were just busy….
The Anglican priest who lives in our neighborhood got the Homeowners’ Association to change the rule that had said Christmas decorations needed to be down by January 1 to at least January 6. The rule now actually allows until January 31.
We don’t decorate the outside of the house, but we just took down our interior Christmas decorations (including the tree) on January 6.
What your mother did sounds like the “elf on a shelf” game that was being played for kids a few years ago ;)
we need to bring back the whole 12 days of Christmas again. Was your mother Eastern Orthodox? My mother (Italian) spoke about the Epiphany but I don’t remember ever formally celebrating it.
My mother was a Midwestern Methodist (I think). She was a child education major that didn’t graduate and she looked for ways to help her kids relate to their faith better. Hands on things were a big deal to her.
This was one of her ways to bring the nativity to life. The other was bringing Jesus out on Christmas Day. Another was teaching us that “amen” was cheering for God (so we end our prayers with “yeay God!”
Thanks Stina. I was away for a few days. Sounds like a wonderful mother.