It’s the Twelfth Day of Christmas, and it is time to put away the decorations. But we will keep our Christmas tree lights on one last time tonight – for the arrival of the Three Wise Men, or Magi, who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring their gifts to baby Jesus.
However, all Santa Clauses and Father Christmas were quickly banished from our home on Boxing Day. He’s come and gone and so we thought that’s what should happen too.
Now that includes our Christmas jumpers too, which we had worn so fondly.
Mum said they were our best Christmas jumpers – after having tried so many of them over the years! Now they go into the depths of the sweater drawer till Christmas Jumper Day in December!
It is sad to think that soon all the lovely decorations that we see when walking around will all be gone too.
They were so pretty to look at.
But it is only eleven months away till we will see them all again!
May’s comment: Superstition has it that taking down Christmas decorations before the 5th January is believed to be bad luck. Just in case there’s truth in it, we simply keep the Christmas tree lit and the wreath on the door. We don’t need any more bad luck!
The Twelfth Night tradition, which dates back to the 4th century, marks the end of Christmas and the Eve of the Epiphany. So while all the other Christmas decorations have slowly receded into the Christmas box, we keep our lights on till 5th January, like the Star of Bethlehem to guide the Three Wise Men.
With that means all the Christmas lights that were such a welcome sight this last December will soon be switched off …
January is usually such a dark, dreary month – and the ongoing pandemic makes it all the sadder. But we can only think that with each passing day, the days get a little longer and soon we will have Spring to look forward to – along with “victorious vaccines” – so that come Summer, we can hug again. Stay warm, stay safe and see you on the other side of vaccines!
