History Lesson Time! YAYYYYY!!!!!! Do you remember in October when Allison shared the true meaning of Halloween…well fast forward a few months and we get Christmas. I trust that you all know the true meaning of Christmas but what about the 12 days….
Everywhere I turn someone is doing something for the 12 Days of Christmas. I even did a quick Google search and found 12 Days of Christmas Ideas for Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Etc. Sounds exciting, huh? Celebrating Christmas for 12 Days but GUESS WHAT? It’s not time for the 12 Days of Christmas!
The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the year among Christians. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th).
I know I had it wrong. I learned the true meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas last year when looking up the song history. So now, into the song history. What do all of those gifts mean? Well, according to The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, “Suggestions have been made that the gifts have significance, as representing the food or sport for each month of the year. Importance [certainly has] long been attached to the Twelve Days, when, for instance, the weather on each day was carefully observed to see what it would be in the corresponding month of the coming year.
Interesting right? I love looking up the true meaning of things, it helps me have a deeper appreciation for whatever it may be and I can’t wait to pass down my new knowledge to my little lady.
And even though I know the true meaning now, my daughter still has 12 Christmas Outfits she started wearing a couple of days ago.
And for an Elf on the Shelf Update….what’s your elf up to? Ours (Ike) has been hanging out in my poinsettias, our stockings, Caroline’s high chair and on her book shelf.
