The countdown to Christmas is on, with 1 December arriving – meaning that it’s just 24 more sleeps until the big day.
As well as being a month full of food, drink, presents and festive goodwill to all, there is of course a religious significance and much of that centres around the 12 Days of Christmas.
You will of course know about the 12 days from the famous carol – but just when does it actually start and finish and what does it actually mean?
Here, as part of our series answering the most-asked festive questions on Google – answered here in a bid to give you an even merrier festive season – is what you need to know…
When does the 12 Days of Christmas start?
Although you might already be getting your tree up, contemplating a mince pie or two and generally feeling all Christmassy, you’ve still got a while to wait until the 12 Days of Christmas – also known as Twelvetide – actually begin.
That’s because they don’t actually start until Christmas Day itself, 12 December – and run until 5 January, which is day before Epiphany.
That day is known as Twelfth Night, with the following day being the day when your tree and decorations should be taken down.
All of the days have their own individual religious significance, with people celebrating a different thing on a different day (none of which have anything to do with a partridge in a pear tree).
What does each day of the 12 Days of Christmas mean?
The first day – Christmas Day, this is of course about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
The second day – known as Boxing Day in the UK, it’s known elsewhere as St Stephen’s Day, being the day of the Christian martyr St Stephen.
The third day – this celebrates St John the Apostle, author of the book of Revelation, and also the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendships and authors.
The fourth day – this is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the day to remember all of the baby boys who were killed by King Herod in his search to find and kill the Baby Jesus.
The fifth day – the day when St Thomas Becket is remembered – he was the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th Century and was murdered on this day, 29 December, in 1170 for challenging the king’s authority over the church.
The sixth day – commemorates St Egwin of Worcester who died on 30 December 717. He was known as the protector of orphans and the widowed.
The seventh day – this falls on New Year’s Eve and on this day Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated. Some East European countries still know the day as Silvester.
The eighth day – this coincides with New Year’s Day and celebrates Mary the Mother of Jesus.
The ninth day – this honours St Basil The Great and St Gregory Nazianzen, who were two important 4th Century Christians.
The tenth day – this is the Feast Of the Holy Name Of Jesus and marks the day Jesus was named in the Jewish Temple.
The eleventh day – this is a day to celebrate St Elizabeth Ann Seton who was the first American saint who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. This day is also celebrated as the Feast of Saint Simon Stylites who spent 37 years living on a small platform on top of a pillar.
The twelfth day – this is known as Epiphany Eve as it is that day before 6 January – the Epiphany.
MORE: Christmas events to get you in the festive spirit during the first week of December
source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/01/when-do-the-12-days-of-christmas-start-and-what-does-each-day-mean-2-11250414/
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