Are you enjoying these Twelve Days of Christmas? Do you know how the popular tradition started?
Christians sincerely wanted to find the accurate birth date of Christ, but they faced challenges once they separated from Judaism. The religion followed a twelve month/thirty day lunar calendar that had to be adjusted every so often with a new month by the Sanhedrin's decree.
Greek Christians in the East followed their own solar calendar, which put observance days at odds with their brethren in the West who followed the calendar of the Roman Empire.
In 300 A.D., the Roman calendar superseded the Greek. However, the Eastern churches still marked the birth of Christ on January 6.
Although Christians in the Roman Empire began celebrating the Nativity around 380 A.D., Eastern Christians considered Epiphany to be a greater feast. To them, the day commemorated two Incarnational appearances--at the beginning of Jesus' life and at the beginning of His ministry (the day he was baptized and His divine Sonship proclaimed--Matthew 3:13-17).
By the way, though most manger scenes portray the Magi worshiping Jesus right along with the Shepherds, Scripture points to a later time (up to two years) when they arrived. The Bible does NOT mention the number of Magi who visited Jesus, but only three gifts.
"And when they had come into the house they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshiped Him..." (Matthew 2:11)
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16)
Christians in the West eventually embraced the Feast of the Epiphany. However, since December 25 was already an established date to honor the birth of Christ, churches in the region commemorated January 6 as the appearing of the star that guided the arrival of Gentile Magi.
Hence, the Twelve Days of Christmas from The Nativity (evening December 25) to Epiphany (the evening of January 6).
This is traditionally a season of great rejoicing for Christians--full of merriment, food, games and music. Children dress up and put on plays, gifts are given on each of the days (better than Santa's one night, huh?) and don't forget the delicious Wassail!
Amid this festive time, however, there are three days that call believers to what seems a contradictory somberness...observances that at first seem awkward and out of place.
December 26--The Feast of Stephen, honoring the Church's first adult martyr
(Remember the song, Good King Wenseslaus? He looked out "on the Feast of Stephen".)
December 27--The Feast of St. John, honoring the beloved disciple
December 28--The Feast of the Holy Innocents, honoring all the male children of Bethlehem and surrounding regions, two years old and younger, who were slaughtered by order of Herod--Christendom's first martyrs.
Church tradition tells us that John was the only disciple to die a natural death at a ripe old age. So why is he included?
The early Church tied them together this way:
Stephen- a martyr in blood, will, and love
John-a martyr in will and love
Innocents-martyrs in blood
The Church notes John's imprisonment, banishment to Patmos, and the unsuccessful attempts to first poison then burn him alive in a vat of searing oil. Yet toward the end of his life, his message remained the same: "Love one another". He was a living martyr!
In other words:
All believers are called to die UNTO Christ every day (like John).
Many persecuted Christians die FOR Christ everyday around the world (like Stephen).
Some people die BECAUSE of Christ (like the Bethlehem children).
Dying because of Christ is often not an act of one’s will. It falls upon a person(s) in a certain place under extraordinary circumstances because evil attempts to destroy what is good and innocent in the earth.
Innocent people, such as the children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, suffer and die because of the wickedness that for now, works through sick people who assume power—whether it’s through a parent’s gun or a corrupt government.
But God knows and loves every victim, and He keeps records of each deed. At the end of human history, when not only these acts but the consequences of each one has rippled through time, He will execute flawless justice on their behalf for all the world to see.
Still…why are Christians called to mingle martyrdom and mirth during this season?
Look at the gifts brought to the Christ child--gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The Christian life is not either/or but both/and---meaning we experience joy and suffering, triumphs and tragedies. Christian author and Pastor Rick Warren once described life as having two train tracks--opposite, yet always running parallel. Both are necessary or the train will derail.
We may be celebrating in one area of our life, only to be deeply afflicted in another at the same time. Life is a blend of the divine gifts to us of gold (victory and gain), frankincense (joy and peace), and myrrh (bitterness and loss).
These feast days were not spent in quiet introspection, though.
On St. Stephen's Day, it was--and remains in many parts of the world--a day for giving food, money, and other items to service workers and the needy. In some places, it is known as "Boxing Day" since gifts are boxed up and delivered. The custom follows the heart of a deacon, like Stephen, to serve.
The blessing of wine is associated with St. John's Feast. The head of each household takes home a portion of consecrated wine and shares it in the name of St. John with members of the family. Each person receives affirmation in the form of a spoken blessing. The wine is then taken to the sick and distressed.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents is also called Childermas (Mass of the Children).
It honors our children as little brothers and sisters in the Lord. A fun custom is for the youngest child to be "in charge" for the day. He or she decides the day's foods, drinks, music, and entertainments. (If you have more than one child, it may be wise to divide these honors!) The classic Coventry Carol, speaks of the Bethlehem sacrifices.
Christians who still observe this feast often include the millions of aborted babies with the Holy Innocents in their prayers, acknowledging that the dynamics that drove Herod to infanticide--along with the likes of Pharaoh (Exodus 1)—still rise up against all that is honest, just, pure, lovely, good, and virtuous in the earth. (Philippians 4:8)
It is a time of intercession and spiritual warfare against the forces that seek to weaken each new generation…robbing a needy world of its future healers, inventors, musicians, and philosophers.
It saddens the heart to think of the deaths of these innocent children, but we can be glad that they are now in the presence of God and nurtured by the Church at rest. One day they will return to earth with Him in glory!
Until then, let's be thankful for the bitter and the sweet! God works all things out for our good and His eternal purposes. A young man who was one of the chief persecutors of the church attended the stoning of Stephen and even held the coat of one of the executioners. He later converted and wrote most of the New Testament. His name was Paul.
Throughout our lives, we will drink from many cups, but the love of Christ can overcome the "poison" as it did for John. Therefore, go ahead…dare to rejoice through the bitter and the sweet! Sing the silly "Twelve Days of Christmas" and try to remember who leaps, who pipes, and who dances.
And don’t forget to raise a Wassail toast for me!
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