Retail stores in Virginia, now are displaying Christmas decor before Halloween. Many business, as well as people I know had Christmas trees up before Thanksgiving. On December 26th, as most everyone else is removing all traces of the holiday, I am just getting started. The best time of the season for me, is the 12 days of Christmas, beginning on December 25th and ending at Epiphany on January 5th.
For decades, whenever I heard the popular song, The twelve days of Christmas, I assumed these were the dozen days leading up to the what many consider the most joyous day of the year. I recently found out, that the 12 days of Christmas begin on December 25th and run until Epiphany, on January 5th. While most people see this as just a fun holiday song, many Christians believe, that each day of the song has a religious connotation.
This is the perfect time to make your own celebration, to take your mind off of what your Christmas, was or was not. Each year on December 26th, if I have discretionary funds, I take full advantage of sales. I can get holiday candy, cookies, metal tins, and decor two for $1.00 at Dollar Tree. My family enjoys these treats right until January. And we leave up our tree and decorations until then as well.
This is a time when I can get discounted cards to people before New Year, while still in the Christmas season. During this time I read and reflect upon the story in Matthew chapter 2 of the Wise men, who found the young child, Jesus in a house.
After this last Christmas season, my husband found a great bargain on a 32 inch television at Best Buy. We had planned to replace an non working TV during the summer, but waited until December 27th. We saved an additional $20.00 over the holiday sale price, and received a $15.00 Best Buy gift card, because our after Christmas purchase was over $50.00.
Although our children are adults, my husband enjoys using his first paycheck after Christmas, to purchase a gift or two, that we were unable to buy for them before Christmas Eve. I believe, that extending my holiday for 12 days after December 25th gives joy to my entire family.
We also purchased a few additional toys and gifts for our grandchildren. We really enjoyed watching them open presents right up until New years day. I also enjoyed viewing some of the greatest Christmas movies, television shows, and cartoons with them, through the end of the year.
In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul credits Jesus with saying, that it is more blessed to give to than to receive. Perhaps, if we are blessed to see another holiday, we can give gifts each of the 12 days of Christmas, the same way a gift is given each of the 8 days of Hannukah.
