12 Days of Christmas
Did you know the first day of Christmas is December 25th? That's right. Christmas does not end on the 25th; it begins on the 25th. So many people take down their decorations and throw out the baby with it when it is all just the beginning. In today's capitalist world all the marketing begins so far in advance many people are ready to be done with it. Now, I am all about getting ready and doing the crafts ahead of time. I love the lights and the decorations.
Plans for the season start long before even Halloween, but we don't start the decorating until the beginning of Advent. Advent? What's Advent?
The definition of advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. This time includes the preparation of the arrival. So an advent calendar begins on December 1st and goes through December 24th, with December 25th being the arrived day of focus for the advent calendar. Advent of the Liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent falling on the Sunday closest to November 30th. But there are always 4 Sundays in Advent, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which begins the 12 days of Christmas. January 5th is also known as Twelfth Night and this in traditional customs is when the decorations come down.
Do you know what comes the day after the 12 Days of Christmas? Epiphany! In our house we love to call Epiphany King Cake Day. January 6th, Epiphany, begins the days of celebration and carnival that lead to Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday. Did you know that?
See, while the Bible tells the story of the angels announcing Christ's birth to the shepherds and they go to him that night, the wise men, or Magi, knew of his birth because they were astrologers (or some call them soothsayers) and saw the star appear the night of Christ's birth. But they did not find him that night, the night of his birth. They had a journey to go on. They had to follow the star to find him. Joseph and Mary had to travel from where they lived in Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Why did they do that? It was basically a census (for taxes). Ole' Caesar Augustus made an announcement saying everyone had to return to their family's homeland and register for taxes. Since Joseph's family was from Bethlehem he had to go there to register. They didn't have the internet so he couldn't just pop online and fill out a form and be done with it. Nope. Mary was really pregnant - great with child - so Joseph took her with him, not wanting to leave her behind. And he had to register her too as they were to be married.
This is why there was no room in any inn - everybody from Bethlehem had traveled home to do their registering. But after the birth of Jesus and the registration the three of them returned to Nazareth. This is where the Magi found them. See the Magi were "from the East" which refers to Babylon. Babylon is known today as Mesopotamia, within modern-day Iraq. That is easily over one thousand miles of travel. While there were no Exxons to stop at for bathroom breaks or maps from the AAA we believe it took them over a year but less than two years to reach the family. How do we know this? Well, there are a few things to know about the situation.
The magi were most likely more than three (no where does it say three) and most definitely traveled with an entourage and a caravan. The magi (advisors, counselors to the king) were astrologers and new of the coming of this big event, the birth of the king of the Jews. So they first traveled to Behtlehem in Judea to see King Herod and ask him where this newborn king of the Jews was so they may worship him and give him gifts. Well, Ole Herod was not having anyone take over kingship from him, but he kept his jealousy hidden and told the magi he did not know but said for them to return to him and share his location so that he too could worship him. Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!! - keep reading...
But they continued to follow the star until it rested over the place where Jesus slept, back in Nazareth. They fell down and worshipped him and gave him three gifts - we'll get to these in a minute.
The magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod they traveled home another way. Oh, but Jealous Herod could not have it end without knowing so he ordered all the infant boys two years of age and under in Bethlehem to be slaughtered. But Jesus was not there. Why two years of age and under? Because he did not know the exact day of Jesus's birth or where he was, but he knew how long the magi had travelled and he knew this time frame would cover the age of this new King of the Jews.
What were the three gifts? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Why these gifts? I learned them like this when I was a child: one for his kingship, one for his lordship, and one for his death on a tree.
Gold. The magi recognized him as a king of kings, the king that transcends all earthly rulers.
Frankincense. Frankincense is burned in temples and churches as an offering to God. The magi recognized him as lord of all, acknowledging Jesus as fully man and fully God.
Myrrh. It was routinely used to embalm bodies. A gift of foreshadowing.
It is in these gifts we see the Magi illuminate Christ's identity.
So the 12 Days of Christmas are seen as days of celebration as the magi travelled to find Jesus, King of the Jews. On Epiphany we celebrate this day with King Cake, traditionally with a tiny plastic baby baked inside. In some traditions there is a bean, or a coin used instead of a tiny plastic baby. We eat King Cake and celebrate until Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the day before Lent which is the time leading up to Holy Week that includes Maundy Thursday (this night Jesus was arrested), Good Friday (this day he was crucified), Holy Saturday (reflection and anticipation for Sunday). Followed by Easter Sunday.
So in celebration I give you the 12 Days of Christmas Sale. Each day there will be a new item for sale. When you make at least a $12 purchase and type in the code for that day you will get %12 off that day's item (and there may be a hidden sale in there too.)
1st Day of Christmas - Peppermint Candy GMS
2nd Day of Christmas - Christmas Tree Farm GMS
3rd Day of Christmas - It's Raining Soap GMS
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