The 12 Days of Christmas--they're when?

Dear all,  

This is one of my all-time favorite articles and I like to share it with other Orthodox brothers & sisters during the month of December.  The Twelve Days of Christmas are, indeed, Orthodox!

~May your Twelve Days of Christmas be blessed~ 

Love in Christ,

Presbytera Candace 

From the web site of St. Luke the Evangelist Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois:

The Twelve Days of Christmas - They're When?
By Pearl Homiak 

Believe it or not, December 25th is the first day of Christmas.  You'd never know it, especially if you happen to be shopping any time after Halloween.  Plastic crèches, soldiers, and Santa Clauses; Christmas trees, colored and sometimes blinking lights; red ribbons, candy canes, and homes and lawns with varying degrees of lighted decorations-all begin to mushroom each year from the beginning of November, and sometimes even sooner. 

I remember that when I was very young Christmas was hardly even mentioned before Thanksgiving.  No one that we knew put up a Christmas tree until a few days before Christmas (December 25th; "Orthodox Christmas" took place on January 7th in those days.  However, most Orthodox people decorated for Christmas on December 25th, which was celebrated as a gift-giving day. January 7th was reserved for the religious observance of Christmas).  Even department stores held off until their day-after-Thanksgiving sales.  Christmas parties took place after Christmas, and people sang and played recordings of Christmas carols from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day or even up to Epiphany.  The Christmas season was a meaningful time back then, but what is it now? 

There is a song we all know called "The Twelve Days of Christmas" that describes gift giving over a period of time-twelve days.  St. Ephraim the Syrian first mentioned the period of the "twelve days," according to one source, sometime before the year 400.  The Council of Tours made it official in 597. This period of time begins at Christmas and ends at Epiphany. 

The origin of the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," has been recently disputed. I had no idea it was more than a cute song until a friend of mine e-mailed an explanation of it to me a few years ago.  According to the missive I received, the song was actually a "catechism song" used by Catholics in England during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  The song was supposedly used to teach children the tenets of the faith during this period, when law forbade practicing Catholicism.  As such, the song's gifts and other images have the following religious representations (compiled from various sources):

• True love = God
• Me = every baptized person
• Partridge = Jesus Christ, who, like a bird, will protect God's defenseless children
• Pear tree = the Cross, which was made from a tree.
• 2 Turtle doves = the Old and New Testaments; also, two turtle doves were sacrificed when Jesus was first brought to the temple,
• 3 French hens = faith, hope, and charity (sacrificial giving); also, gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the Wise Men
• 4 Calling birds = the four Gospels and/or the four Evangelists
• 5 Golden rings = the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch) which gives the history of man's fall from grace
• 6 Geese a-laying = the six days of creation
• 7 Swans a-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6-8); also, the seven sacraments
• 8 Maids a-milking = the eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10); also, milking symbolizes Christ's love for us
• 9 Ladies dancing = the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
• 10 Lords a-leaping = the Ten Commandments
• 11 Pipers piping = the eleven faithful Apostles
• 12 Drummers drumming = the twelve points of the Apostles Creed; also, the twelve Apostles preaching

Recently I came across a different source of the song.  It seems that several centuries ago in France children played a non-religious memory game called "The Twelve Days of Christmas."  Each child recited a verse of the song. If someone missed a verse he/she had a consequence.  This game was apparently first recorded in a book published in England in the late 18th century.  However, the game could have been known for a long time before that.  Further, the religious application of it might have been based on the French game in the first place. Who knows?  And, anyway, is it really important?  There is more than one way to convey the tenets of faith, and singing representative songs is one way to do it. 

We still hear the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but it has nothing to do with Christianity.  (I haven't found any information about children today playing a game called by the same name).  Sadly, many modern-day children don't know the real story of Christmas, of Christ's Nativity. For them Christmas is only a great decorating, celebrating, and present-getting time that happens to begin revving up after Halloween and reaches its high point on December 25th.  (Even Thanksgiving gets minimized).  After that, everything returns to "normal," except for more celebrating on New Year's Eve. 

Maybe people think the "twelve days of Christmas" start on December 13th and are the most important shopping days before Christmas.  To some people "the twelve days of Christmas" might even be the twelve Saturday-and-Sunday-department-store-best-sale-days between Halloween and Christmas (there really are twelve Saturdays and Sundays during this time, and don't most people shop then)? 

I see nothing wrong with shopping well in advance for the sake of my personal economy and more unique and unhurried gift selection.  (In fact, one year I actually got all of my Christmas shopping done before advent started.  The only store I went to during advent was the grocery story, and that as rarely as I could.  What a meaningful advent and Christmas I had that year!).  However, the untimely pre-season decorating, the never-ending-department-store-carol-playing, and the during-advent Christmas partying are too much for me.  I'm all for getting things back into perspective.  We shouldn't allow ourselves to be dictated to by advertising and department store companies.  Let's put the celebration of Christmas back where it belongs. 

Awhile back I decided to make changes in my Christmas-related habits to refocus my celebration of Christ's Nativity.  I stopped playing tapes of Christmas carols during advent.  Instead, I started playing them on Christmas day.  We also continued to turn the TV off during advent, something we have done for more than twenty years (except for one chaotic year). 

Over the last several years I have deliberately been sending my Christmas cards after December 25th when I can truly say, "Christ is Born! Glorify Him!"  It just seems to make more sense that way.  While everyone else is watching TV or snoozing after Christmas dinner, I sit down after the dishes are done and write out my Christmas cards.  If I send out a Christmas letter, I write it then.  Within the next couple of days, I mail out my cards with joy, rather than the hurry-up-let's-get-this-over-with anxiety that plagues pre-Christmas card-senders.  If I'm not home for Christmas, then I get the cards ready for mailing the next day.  So if you receive a Christmas card from me shortly after Christmas, it's not late.  It's right on time! 

I like the idea of Christmas starting instead of ending on December 25th.  We usually don't celebrate our own birthdays until the day they occur or later.  So why do we, in effect, celebrate Jesus Christ's birthday (Nativity) so long in advance?  Christmas trees and outdoor decorations could still be put up ahead of time.  However, they don't have to be turned on until Christmas Eve.  After all, no one would light the candles on a birthday cake two months before the birthday party. 

It doesn't take much effort to make these changes, but it does feel weird at first.  Yet it's not a matter of bucking the establishment.  It's really all about getting things back into perspective.  And it just makes sense. 

Our society has come a long way from St. Ephraim the Syrian's statement about the significant twelve-day period between Christmas and Epiphany.  However, I question our ultimate destination.  We seem to proclaim Christmas earlier and earlier as time goes on… Focusing our celebration of Christmas after December 25th could help us do that. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas became important to western Christians many centuries ago.  However, this period ultimately degenerated to become filled with superstitions, fear, and other negative elements.  The song," The Twelve Days of Christmas," was used to teach spiritual truths, then it, too, degenerated, becoming a cute folksong.  From now on let's limit the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle.  Let's use the real "twelve days"-between Christmas and Epiphany--to pull away from the over commercialization of Christ's Nativity.  Let's start making the Twelve Days of Christmas something special and joyful-a real celebration of Christ's birth-for us in America and for our children. We will be glad we did. 

Click here for the Christian catechism hidden in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song…http://www.cresourcei.org/cy12days.html 

The above is not an Eastern Orthodox site—however, it gives credence to the celebration of the Twelve Days and makes reference to fundamentals of the Christian faith embedded into a familiar Christmas song.

On redeeming the time

A lesson from St. Dimitri of Rostov on Redeeming the Time

In the life of Saint Dimitri of Rostov, as told in Blessed Bishop Nicolai Velimirovic's Prologue from Ochrid (October 28), we can read that the saint was in the salvific habit of chanting the hymn "O Theotokos and Virgin, Rejoice" every hour when the clock struck.

Of course, he was a monk and even a saint. He lived in a monastery, and led a life dedicated to prayer and the learning and keeping of God's commandments. We poor ones lead a life most often not dedicated to those things which are for the salvation of our souls, but to the cares of this world and self-gratification, even though the evangelical commandments, which St. Dimitri followed so well, apply to all Christians.

We engage in both important and frivolous pursuits, and are often surrounded by people using bad language, and with bad ideas. Everywhere, whether in the office or supermarket, among our families, friends and brethren, or even when alone, temptations, distractions and sinful images assault us. It is very easy to forget WHO WE ARE (that is, who we have as our Father), and to lose a sure knowledge of the presence of God within our hearts as we go about our tasks. Perhaps we say our morning and evening prayers faithfully (perhaps not), but we may go long periods during the day that we do not remember God, or pray even a little bit. To always have the remembrance of God within us is certainly beyond our capabilities for the moment, but we can make a good start by emulating Saint Dimitri's good habit.

Christian! Strive to remember God at least every hour. Purchase a watch which beeps every hour, or a clock with chimes. Decide upon a short prayer or prayers to say every hour when you are "called to prayer." Perhaps you may say "Meet it is," or the Jesus prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner," or the prayer of the publican "O God be merciful to me a sinner and cleanse me." You may merely cross yourself and call God to mind. The content or variety of prayers is not so important, and is a matter of personal preference. The important idea here is to somehow shake ourselves out of our lethargy at least every hour, so that we do not forget God.

If you observe this practice faithfully, you will begin to see almost immediate results. You will find yourself praying more often, and able to listen to the prompting of your guardian angel, who previously could not be heard above the din. You may notice with unnerving frequency that you were about to be angry or were gossiping, or about to be mastered by some other passion as the clock strikes. If that is the case, then, you have an opportunity to immediately turn to God, and ask forgiveness, then say "your prayer." It is a much better thing to remember God while sinning, and to turn back to Him, than to keep on sinning and not think about Him.

In our household, everyone has this habit. Every time the wall clock chimes, we cross ourselves. Even our youngest one, Natalie, who is two years old, remembers, and is in fact the self-appointed family sentry who makes sure none of us will forget our duty.

Notice: This Article first appeared in "Orthodox Family". It may be freely distributed, as long as my name, church and contact information, and this notice are included: Fr. Seraphim Holland, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, PO Box 37, McKinney, TX 75070;   Phone: 972 529-2754

God knows what we can bear

If the whole of your life has passed smoothly and without care, weep for yourself.  For both the Gospel and human experience assert with one voice that no one has, without great sufferings and trials, left behind him any great work on earth or been glorified in heaven.  If your earthly road has been bathed in sweat and tears for the attaining of righteousness and truth, rejoice and be glad, for your reward will indeed be great in heaven.  Never entertain the foolish thought that God has forsaken you.  God knows exactly how much you can bear, and measures your sufferings and trials accordingly.  'When men know,' says St. Nil Sorsky, 'how much weight a horse can carry, or a donkey or a camel, and load them according to their strength; when a potter knows how long to leave the clay in the kiln for it to be neither shattered nor under-cooked, how could God not know how much temptation a soul can bear to make it ready and fitted for the Kingdom of Heaven?'

 

Wisdom from St. Ambrose of Optina

If we abandon our own desires and opinions, and endeavor to fulfill God's wishes and understanding, we will save ourselves, no matter what our position, no matter what our circumstance.  But, if we cling to our own desires and opinions, neither position nor circumstance will be of help.  Even in Paradise, Eve transgressed God's commandment, and life with the Savior Himself brought the unfortunate Judas no good.  As we read in the Holy Gospels, we require patience and an inclination to pious living. 

 

A stress remedy

None of the painful things that happen to us every day will injure or distress us once we perceive and continually meditate on their purpose.   It is on account of this that St. Paul says: 'I take delight in weakness, insults and hardships,' (2 Cor. 12:10), and, 'All who seek to live a holy life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,' (2 Tim. 3:12). 

On over-sensitivity

Your only defect is that you are over-sensitive. Over-sensitivity is not good. It causes a lot of problems that are hard to be solved. It is the basic cause of all disasters. You will only harm yourself and your family if you do not try and get rid of it, or at least restrict it. No one withstands an insult with pleasure, least of all an over-sensitive person. But in everyday life, all of us can be victims of insults. And what does insult really mean? It means a moral decrease, a moral harm, or doubted prestige caused by others. Well, how is one supposed to control them? Can they be controlled? Of cause not. The right and just aim is not to insult or be insulted. It is difficult but not impossible. And just this is the aim of the Church of Christ. However, in some cases God allows a temptation to judge our endurance and our belief. And those who pass the test are very few. We must struggle to do God’s will. Only His mercy will save us. 

 

Newly glorified St. Porphyrios

Today, December 2, is his feast day--wondrous is God in His Saints!

Link below includes link to akathist in both English & Greek and paraklesis prayers in Greek:
 
http://saintjohnthewonderworker.ca/2013/11/28/elder-porphyrios-glorified-as-a-saint-yesterday/