12 Days of Christmas

 Did you know that the 12 Days of Christmas is more than a song? I didn't, but now I do! It is the period between Christmas Eve and Epiphany (January 6, when the 3 Kings visited Jesus). They are or were considered 12 days of feasting, and in early Christianity they prayed for each month of the new year on each day of the 12 days. So if you thought you could toss out the tree and it's all over with, not so fast, the party is just getting started. 

Roll out some cookies!

Not so fast, Cowboy!

There we go! Get the party started!

The Song, the 12 days of Christmas, originates in England during the persecution of Catholics from 1558 to 1829 and had a meaning for each of the days. "My True love" is God the Father. It was simple enough to hide as a song. 

It was illegal to be Catholic.

Priest holes underground.

Beauty ever present

The Advent season is one for fasting and prayer, and the Christmas feast days are for light and joy. I guess we always have next year to start fresh! The feast of Jesus birth is so important that it was designated 12 feast days. That makes me scratch my head a little and wonder about all of the feasting, pigging out, parties and over-indulgence that occurs before Christmas. No one at the pulpit or online ever said anything about fasting and prayer during Advent (or perhaps my brain glazed over those parts...). I would love to know what people did historically to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. Some ideas I have, for myself and to share include assisting mass, praying for each liturgical month, our country and Russia and stop using my phone so much:

1. December 25, Day one: Religious: attend mass, Food: Make a crocpot easy no sweat feast, served up fancy on the fancy plates, grocery store cake, Prayer: pray the rosary for January, for a growing love for the Holy name of Jesus, mercy for our country and Russia, Personal: relax and reflect. Don't get caught up in scrolling.

2. December 26, Day two: St Stephen Feast day. Religious: attend mass, Food: left overs, more cake. Prayer: pray the rosary for February 2021, for having a Holy Family, thanksgiving for the 2 sections of the Bible: Old and New Testament,  mercy for our country and Russia. Ask St Stephen, on his feast day for intercession. Personal: relax and reflect. 

3. December 27, Day three:  Religious: attend mass, Food: something light and healthy, and more cake. Prayer: pray the rosary for March 2021, for St. Joseph's protection, for an increase in 3 Theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Love. Personal: go for a walk and look for three different birds. Clean out cabinets

4. December 28, Day 4:  Religious: attend mass, Feast of the Holy Innocents. Food: solid sandwiches, chips and fruit. Prayer: pray the rosary for April 2021, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, thanksgiving for the 4 Gospels,  for the end of abortion (Holy Innocents) and mercy on our country. Personal: Visit unborn babies graveyard and pray. Enjoy an outing to Annapolis.

5. December 29, Day 5:  Feast of the Holy Family. Religious: attend mass, Food: something fishy and doughnuts for desert. Prayer: pray the rosary for May 2021, for growing in love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking to not fall from grace like in the 5 first books of the Old Testament,  mercy for our country and Russia, Personal: read something by Father Al Schwartz, clean out cabinets.

6. December 30, Day 6:  Religious: attend mass, Food: Spaghetti with muscles, cookies for desert. Prayer: pray the rosary for June 2021, for loving the Sacred Heart of Jesus, thanksgiving for the 6 Days of creation, mercy for our country and Russia, Personal: reach out to moms I help, clean out cabinets, share cookies with neighbors. Examination of Conscience.

7. December 31, Day 7: Religious: attend mass, and confession. Food: Fresh made tortellini, cookies for desert. Prayer: pray the rosary for July 2021, thanksgiving for the Precious Blood of Jesus, ask for the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, mercy for our country and Russia, Personal: pick up diapers and formula to deliver to moms I help. 

8. January 1, Day 8: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Religious: attend mass, Food: pasta with salmon, broccoli rabe, pie for desert. Prayer: pray the rosary for August 2021, for having a heart like the Immaculate Heart of Mary, petitioning for the 8 beatitudes, mercy for our country and Russia, Personal: call my family.

9. January 2, Day 9: Feast of St. Basil the Great. Religious: attend mass, Food: Burgers and salad. Prayer: pray the rosary for September 2021, for asking Our Lady of Sorrows to be with us in our pain, thanksgiving for the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit, mercy for our priests and bishops, intercession by St basil the Great. Personal: go grocery shopping before work starts! Clean out fridge. 

10. January 3, Day 10: Religious: attend mass, Food: baked quiche and veggies. Prayer: pray the rosary for October 2021, for loving the Rosary, help to follow the 10 Commandments, mercy for our political leaders, Personal: take a nap.

11. January 4, Day 11: Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton. Religious: attend mass, Food: Leftovers with cheese and a baguette Prayer: pray the rosary for November 2021, for mercy on the Souls in Purgatory that have no one to pray for them, thanksgiving for the 11 faithful Apostles. Personal: get back into the groove of work! Blog on Mother Seaton, my hero!

12. January 5, Day 12: Feast of St John Neumann. Religious: attend mass, Food: Lentil soup and sandwiches. Prayer: pray the rosary for December 2021, for loving the Immaculate Conception, for remembering to do penance next Advent, , thanksgiving for the 12 points of the Apostles Creed,   Personal: visit St. John Neumann parish for mass!

Happy 12 Day's of Christmas!