The Twelve Days of Christmas run, according to the Western Church Calendar, from Boxing Day or St. Stephen’s day on 26th December to Epiphany or Twelfth Night on the 6th January. Many of the days has traditions, legends and customs associated with it, some of which are still celebrated while others have been largely forgotten.
First Day of Christmas: 26th December, Boxing Day or St .Stephen’s Day
The origin of the name “Boxing Day” is the old British custom of giving gifts and money, in boxes, to servants on the 26th December. According to legend, St. Stephen served King Harold until he saw the Christmas Star. On learning of the Holy Child he vowed to serve him as the new king.
Second Day of Christmas: 27th December, Mother Night or St. John’s Day
In the Christian Tradition, the 27th December is dedicated to the disciple John, and the church wine for the year would be blessed on this day in Germany and Austria. Legends of beautiful mother figures were associated with this day in Northern Europe.
Third Day of Christmas: 28th December, Holy Innocent’s Day or Childremas
A day dedicated to children. Holy Innocent’s Day is associated with the children slaughtered by King Herod. A curious custom was for parents to beat their children this day, believing that they would then be spared from further suffering in the year to come.
Fourth Day of Christmas: 29th December or The Feast of Fools
The Feast of Fools was a time when ordinary people escaped from the constraints of everyday life and could behave in an abandoned manner, carrying out parodies of church services and reversing the order of hierarchy for a day. The date of the Feast of Fools varied according to country and region, but was always close to 29th December.
Fifth Day of Christmas: 30th December or Bringing on the Boar
The boar was sacred to the Celts, and was associated with gods and mysteries in many parts of Northern Europe. Parading a boar or boar’s head was associated with this day.
Sixth Day of Christmas: 31st December, New Year’s Eve or Hogmanay
Of course, New Year’s Eve remains an important day of celebration and tradition. A custom with an ancient origin was to fumigate the house with the smoke of juniper as the herb has a magical association with gifts and good fortune.
Seventh Day of Christmas: New Year’s Day, The Kalends of January
New Year’s Day is a day of new beginnings and optimism. The ancient custom of wassailing was a blessing of apple trees for a good harvest in the year to come. The largest tree in an orchard would receive an offering of cider poured over its roots, and bread or cake dipped in cider would be placed in its branches. Shouting and banging metal objects around the tree would further drive out evil spirits.
Eleventh Day of Christmas: 5th January, Eve of Epiphany or Festival of the Three Kings
Twelfth Day of Christmas: 6th January, Twelfth Night or Epiphany
Two days associated with the three wise men, tidying away Christmas Decorations and the sharing of a cake that contained a bean. This custom continues to be very popular in France where “La Galette des Rois”, or “Cake of the Kings” is served by the youngest person present. He or she who finds “la fève” or “broad bean” which is often now a small porcelain figure, becomes king or queen and wears a paper crown.
References
The Winter Solstice by John Matthews, published by Thorsons
Encyclopedia Britannica, published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc
