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!

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  1. DonG (CAGW is a hoax) Coolidge
    DonG (CAGW is a hoax)
    @DonG

    Epiphany

    • #1
  2. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    The 7th is Orthodox Christmas. 

    • #2
  3. GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Malpropisms Reagan
    GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Malpropisms
    @GLDIII

    We would never put away the Christmas decorations until the weekend after the Epiphany.

    • #3
  4. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    So…elf on a shelf has an precedent? 

    • #4
  5. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    Part of my family was Greek Orthodox – we got to celebrate twice

    • #5
  6. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    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. 

    • #6
  7. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member
    MWD B612 "Dawg"
    @danok1

    Hang On (View Comment):

    The 7th is Orthodox Christmas.

    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. :)

    • #7
  8. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member
    MWD B612 "Dawg"
    @danok1

    Stina: While most Americans tossed out the Christmas Tree at New Years, some still recognize the 12th Day of Christmas (or Epiphany).

    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.

    • #8
  9. jonb60173 Member
    jonb60173
    @jonb60173

    I wish my parents had talked to your mom.  This sounds like a blast.

    • #9
  10. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Stina:

    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.

     

    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. 

    • #10
  11. Hugh Member
    Hugh
    @Hugh

    Hmmm.  I guess that explains why my neighbour still has his tree up.  We thought they were just busy….

    • #11
  12. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Hugh (View Comment):

    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. 

    • #12
  13. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Stina:

    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!

    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.

    • #13
  14. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Manny (View Comment):

    Stina:

    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!

    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!”

    • #14
  15. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Stina (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    Stina:

    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!

    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.

    • #15
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