The Twelve Days of Christmas

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The Season That Begins After Christmas Day

Every year, the familiar tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” starts floating through the air sometime in early December. We hum along, we laugh at the escalating chaos of gifts, and we assume — quite naturally — that the song is counting down to Christmas. But here’s the twist: the Twelve Days of Christmas don’t lead up to Christmas at all. They begin on Christmas Day itself.

It’s one of those delightful bits of holiday tradition that has quietly slipped out of modern awareness, especially here in the U.S., where the tree often comes down before the New Year. But historically? Christmas was just getting started.

Where the Twelve Days Come From

The Twelve Days of Christmas — also known as Christmastide — stretch from December 25 through January 5, ending on the evening known as Twelfth Night. The next morning, January 6, is Epiphany, the day the Magi are said to have reached Bethlehem.

Some traditions count the days slightly differently, beginning on December 26 and ending on January 6, but the heart of the idea is the same:
Christmas is a season, not a single day.

This period was once filled with feast days, celebrations, and a welcome break from work. Medieval Europeans spent these days visiting, feasting, and enjoying a rare stretch of winter merriment after the long fast of Advent.

So What About the Song?

The carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is directly tied to this festive stretch of time. It wasn’t written as a countdown to December 25 — it was a memory game sung during the Twelve Days themselves. Each verse added a new gift, and if you forgot one, you owed a playful “forfeit,” like a kiss or a treat.

The gifts themselves don’t correspond to specific feast days, but the structure of the song mirrors the joyful, cumulative nature of the season.

Why the Tradition Still Matters

Even though modern life tends to pack up Christmas quickly, the older rhythm has a certain charm — especially here in New England, where winter invites us to slow down whether we planned to or not.

Honoring the Twelve Days can mean:

  • Keeping the tree up until January 6
  • Enjoying a quieter, more reflective stretch after the holiday rush
  • Letting the season unfold gently instead of ending abruptly
  • Savoring the coziness of home during the darkest days of winter

It’s a reminder that not everything needs to be rushed. Some seasons are meant to linger.

A Season Worth Savoring

So the next time you hear “On the first day of Christmas…”, you’ll know. The song isn’t counting down to Christmas — it’s celebrating the days that follow it. The days when the world slows down, the lights glow a little softer, and winter invites us to rest.

Here’s to Christmastide! It’s that quiet, magical stretch that carries us from Christmas Day to Epiphany, one cozy winter moment at a time.

 

Boxing Day

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The Cozy Exhale After the Holiday Rush

While Christmas often steals the spotlight with its twinkling lights and joyful chaos, Boxing Day quietly slips in on December 26th like a deep, contented sigh. It’s the day when the wrapping paper has settled, the cookies have dwindled, and the house finally feels still again. For many, it’s a chance to reset, recharge, and savor the simple comforts that get lost in the holiday whirlwind.

 

Where Boxing Day Comes From

Boxing Day began in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, traditionally as a day when employers gave “Christmas boxes” to workers and tradespeople — small gifts or tokens of appreciation. Over time, it evolved into a day of rest, generosity, and gathering with loved ones. Today, it’s celebrated in many different ways: shopping, visiting family, enjoying leftovers, or simply staying in pajamas until noon.

Here in New England, we may not have grown up with Boxing Day as an official holiday, but the spirit of it fits us perfectly. After all, who appreciates a quiet winter morning more than those of us who’ve weathered a few Nor’easters?

A Day for Slow Living

If Christmas is about celebration, Boxing Day is about restoration. Think:

  • A second cup of coffee enjoyed without rushing
  • A long winter walk through crisp air and quiet streets
  • A cozy blanket, a good book, and zero guilt
  • Leftovers transformed into something delicious
  • A moment to reflect on the year and the people who made it meaningful

It’s a day that invites us to breathe — to let the magic of the season settle in rather than speed past.

Making Boxing Day Your Own

Whether you spend it decluttering, journaling, visiting friends, or indulging in a well-earned nap, Boxing Day is a gentle reminder that rest is part of the celebration too. It’s the perfect bridge between the festive sparkle of Christmas and the fresh start of the New Year.

So here’s to December 26th — the quiet hero of the holiday season. A day for comfort, gratitude, and a little extra coziness along the dusty roads we call home.

 

Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours

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Dear Readers

Our Christmas Card to you. Wishing you and yours the most warm and joyful of times. Creating many wonderful memories.


With grateful love and thanks for all of your support. This has been a very special year!

Debbie “aka Dusty” , Banner  & Balboa

Christmas Eve: A Time of Traditions and Joy

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Memories That Bring Us Home

Growing up, our family had several Christmas Eve traditions that still glow warmly in my memory. Thinking about them now takes me right back—proof, I suppose, that I’ve reached the age where reminiscing becomes its own quiet pleasure.

One of the clearest memories is all of us gathered in the living room, the lights low,  as we watched Amahl and the Night Visitors. I haven’t seen that film in years, and I often wonder how many children today have even heard of it. It’s such a beautiful story of honesty, generosity, and wonder. Today’s holiday favorites lean more toward The Santa Clause, Elf, and The Grinch. All fun in their own way, of course—but what happened to It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street?

Stories That Stay With Us

Speaking of Christmas stories, do you have a favorite? Mine has always been The Gift of the Magi. It gets me every time—heartwarming, tender, and just sentimental enough to bring a tear to my eye. If you’ve never read it, this is the year to treat yourself. You don’t need a book. You can read it here for free.

The Magic of Midnight Mass

Although I was raised Episcopalian, both of my parents came from Catholic upbringings, so Midnight Mass was a must in our household. I’m not sure whether the excitement came from staying up late or from the hope that we might catch Santa in the act when we returned home. Either way, Midnight Mass felt special.

I remember feeling so grown up, swept into the beauty of the rituals—the incense curling upward, the choir filling the church with soaring hymns, the organ vibrating through the pews. The sanctuary glowed with Christmas trees, wreaths, and stained-glass windows shining outward into the night. I no longer attend Midnight Mass, but the memories remain vivid and dear.

Believing in the Magic

Life felt slower then. We sat together as a family, and my parents kept the Santa Claus story alive long after we “knew”—or thought we knew—the truth. Still, the note from Santa tucked into the tree on Christmas morning, or the sudden appearance of gifts that definitely hadn’t been there moments before, kept the magic alive. How did they do it? Even now, I’m not entirely sure.

It was mysterious, fun, and it was childhood.

Wishing You Warm Traditions of Your Own

I hope you and your family enjoy your own joyful traditions—whether they involve classic hymns, cherished stories, or even a movie called Home Alone.

What’s your favorite Christmas story?

🎁 The Night the Animals Prepare

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A Lighthearted Look at December 23rd

The Forgotten Day of the Holiday Season

December 23rd is the underdog of the holiday calendar. It’s not festive enough to get its own song, and it’s not dramatic enough to inspire a Hallmark movie. It’s the day we use to panic‑wrap gifts, lose the scissors repeatedly, and wonder why we bought so much tape last year but can’t find any of it now.

While we’re doing all that, the animals are busy with their own very serious preparations.

Dogs: Conducting the Annual Comfort Inspection

Dogs treat December 23rd like a personal performance review for their beds.

  • They circle with the intensity of a NASA docking maneuver.
  • They nudge blankets into shapes that defy geometry.
  • They sigh loudly, as if the fate of the season depends on proper fluffing.

By the time they settle in, you’d think they were preparing for a long winter’s nap sponsored by a luxury bedding company.

Cats: Scouting Prime Real Estate

Cats approach December 23rd with the focus of tiny, furry real‑estate agents.

They wander the house evaluating:

  • Sunbeam strength
  • Blanket softness
  • Human‑lap availability
  • The structural integrity of the laundry pile

By evening, they’ve chosen the exact spot where tomorrow’s holiday lounging will occur. And once a cat claims a location, it is — legally and spiritually — theirs.

Birds: Rehearsing the Holiday Morning Chorus

If you hear extra chirping on the 23rd, don’t worry — the birds aren’t arguing. They’re rehearsing.

They like to start the 24th with a crisp, cheerful soundtrack, and they take their warm‑up routine very seriously. Think of it as nature’s version of a soundcheck, minus the roadies..

Squirrels: The Last‑Minute Overachievers

Squirrels treat December 23rd like the final lap of a reality competition show.

They’re:

  • Stashing one last acorn
  • Reorganizing their secret treasure hoards
  • Sprinting across yards like they’re late for a meeting
  • Checking your flowerpots for “inventory purposes”

If you see a squirrel moving at warp speed, just know: it’s on a mission.

A Quiet Kind of Preparation

While we’re juggling to‑do lists and wrapping paper, the animals are carrying out their own traditions — no fanfare, no fuss, just small rituals that make the season feel a little cozier.

Maybe that’s the charm of December 23rd. Not the sparkle, not the spectacle, but the everyday routines happening all around us… reminding us that everyone prepares for the holidays in their own way.