There are traditionally Twelve Days of Christmas. Christmas Day is number one and Twelfth Night, Epiphany(feast of the Three Kings) is the Twelfth. In days previous to today’s commercial,
throw-the-tree-out on Dec 26 concept, Christmas tide was these 12 days. We begin celebrating Christmas way before Hallowe’en any more, it is 4 October today, and Sears is already decorated,
and others have their Decorations for sale. Advent was the four weeks of Nov-Dec prior to Christmas, a time of semi-repentance and fasting, to prepare for the Child’s birth. Then came Christmas
and the celebration began. Today we celebrate before Christmas, and,as I said throw out the tree the next day. So times have changed. And not necessarily for the better. The Eastern and Orthodox
Churches still follow the Julian calendar (whereas we follow the Gregorian) and they celebrate Christmas on 6 January: Epiphany/Three Magi: bringing their gifts as found in Matthew’s Gospel.
“Tide” comes from the Old English tid, meaning “time”. (It is related to the German word Zeit.) Hence “high tide” = “high-water time”, “ebb tide” = “ebb time”, “Yuletide” = “Yule time” etc.
LukeJavan8 - 04 October 2009 04:49 PM
The Eastern and Orthodox Churches still follow the Julian calendar (whereas we follow the Gregorian) and they celebrate Christmas on 6 January
“Tide” comes from the Old English tid, meaning “time”. (It is related to the German word Zeit.) Hence “high tide” = “high-water time”, “ebb tide” = “ebb time”, “Yuletide” = “Yule time” etc.
LukeJavan8 - 04 October 2009 04:49 PM
The Eastern and Orthodox Churches still follow the Julian calendar (whereas we follow the Gregorian) and they celebrate Christmas on 6 January
It’s actually on 7 January, I think.
I checked my calendars, and the “traditional” feast of Epiphany was 6 January in 2009. Perhaps it moves around some. In the Roman Church they celebrated
it on the 4th - typical of them: reducing everything to the easiest for everyone, including them: least common denominator, throw out traditions, no one keeps
them anyhow, and all that.
I did not check on Orthodox or Anglican traditions.
I checked my calendars, and the “traditional” feast of Epiphany was 6 January in 2009.
I was referring to the Eastern/Orthodox Christmas, not Epiphany. I checked various websites and they all mentioned 7 January, i.e. a 13-day difference due to the discrepancy between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The Orthodox tradition apparently uses the term ‘Theophany’ rather than ‘Epiphany’, and some Orthodox Churches celebrate it on 19 January.
I stand updated. Thank you for your research. A ‘theophany’ is an “appearance”, so it makes sense, the Magi bringing their gifts make an appearance to the Child.
There are so many Orthodox traditions, I can see why there are discrepancies and differing traditions.
The origin and counting of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures (see Christmas). In the Western church, Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12).
The original American colonists brought their version of the Twelve Days over from England, and adapted them to their new country, adding their own variations over the years. For example, it is believed by many that the modern day Christmas wreath originated with these colonials. A homemade wreath would be fashioned from local greenery and if fruits were available, they were added. Making the wreaths was one of the traditions of Christmas Eve, then they would be hung on each home’s front door beginning on Christmas Night (1st night of Christmas) through Twelfth Night or Epiphany morning. As was already the tradition in their native England, all decorations would be taken down by Epiphany morning and the remainder of the edibles would be consumed. A special cake was also baked then for Epiphany (which some now call the king cake).
I have an idiot next door neighbor, who has an artificial Christmas wreath. It is still on his door from last Christmas, I guess it will be here for this one as well.
Do you know the sog Twelve days of Christmas. Here are some information that I’ve searched while having a class:
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
I guess your neighbor is always in the spirit of Christmas.
He is the grumpiest grouch on this green earth. Mean spirited, spiteful, hateful, angry, hurtful.
Christmas could not reach him, I think it is just laziness with the wreath. Or somebody else put it there and he does not care.
Do you know the sog Twelve days of Christmas. Here are some information that I’ve searched while having a class:
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
Yes, I, for one knew this.
It was used during and after the age of King Henry VIII in England when he broke from the Catholic Church and was persecuting Catholics.
This song was a way Catholics used to teach the faith while being persecuted.
