People often think of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as as twelve days before Christmas. Actually, Epiphany comes after Christmas as the season of the Christian Year from December 25 until January 6. The church celebrates Christ as the Light of the world and celebrates the journey of the three magi.

Every day, from December 25 to January 6, was traditionally a part of the Yuletide celebration. Dedicated to mercy and compassion, each day was noted by selfless giving and tender charity. In many cultures, gift giving was not concentrated on a single day, but rather, as in the famous folk song, spread throughout the entire season.

During the Renaissance, the Church in England could not worship or practice their faith in the open. ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ song was written as a catechism that could be sung in in the streets without the danger of being persecuted. The words to the song 12 Days of Christmas song, in reality are an allegory. The lyrics to the song can be interpreted in two ways: it has surface meaning and the meaning known only to the Church and its members.

Each word in the song represents something in a religious context. God is represented as “true love”. “Me” symbolizes the members called upon to receive these gifts as a Christian. The partridge in a pear tree given on the first day as a symbol of Jesus Christ coming to save mankind.

Sing the song to yourself to figure out the rest of the religious meaning as you browse through the lyrics to the song, 12 Days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

As Christian men and women, we know the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts, but how many of us proclaim this fact to the world around us during the holidays? We can gently challenge those who would see Christmas as a time for commercialism and greed by letting our actions speak for themselves.

Pass it on. Want to give a special gift to a friend or coworker? Give them the gift of the Word. Share the Christmas story, and I don’t mean “‘Twas the Night before Christmas”. Pre-printed leaflets recounting the miracle of Jesus’ birth can be purchased from a Christian bookseller. Or, add that personal touch and create a booklet of your own. A small item, such as a candle, can be included too. Fill a weary heart with God’s message.

Share His love. When a person invites you to their home, they want to share their blessings with you. When we integrate Christ into our very lives, his dwelling becomes our dwelling. Do something special by inviting a friend or fellow employee to church for an Advent worship or a family Christmas Eve church worship. They will not regret they came.

Get involved. For people living on the fringes of society, life gets a little bit harder around the Christmas holidays. Suicide rates increase. Those in urgent need, like the poor and destitute, become more so due to the weather conditions that time of year. God cries out for us to show His love.

Volunteers are a welcomed sight at holiday time. Soup kitchens and food banks seek extra people to prepare and serve hot meals and help with food box deliveries. The social services agency can provide particulars on families in the area that want to be “adopted” for Christmas. As a church body, everyone can pitch in and provide gifts and other necessary items. Providing gifts for orphaned children can also be a church project or one taken on by individual families within the congregation. If you see a need that has yet to be met, begin your own program to provide it or let your family do it.

The goal here is to let Christ’s light shine to those around you. In his lifetime, Jesus saw each individual’s need where they were. Someone whose been helped by you will be more likely to listen about the God you are serving.

A commitment to Christ is a commitment to communicate his life and love to others. If Christ is number one in your lives, your actions should let everyone know it. As Christians, we have a unique opportunity to bring to the world, a true understanding of the Christmas season.

Simple, handmade and homemade Christmas ornaments are some of my favorite ornaments to adorn the Christmas tree. Each year we hang our ornaments with my children’s photos, I reminisce about those memories, especially when I remember my kids as a youngster.

Let me share a few simple Christmas photo ornaments you can make. Even your preschool child could make the first one, so it is a great holiday craft idea for preschoolers.

Christmas Tree

You can start by using a three-inch tree outline to cut from 1/8 inch green spongeboard. Let your preschool child participate in decorating the tree. Dots from many colors of spongeboard can be easily punched out. Your young child can glue these brightly colored cirles on to the tree as ornaments.

After that, cut a 1/2 inch hole at the bottom of the green tree. Place the photo to the back using sticky tape so the picture shows through the opening. Then add a red ribbon loop at the tree’s top.

These holiday Christmas ornaments using photos are so affordable and easy to make, you can design one for each family member. To add a personal touch, have each child write his name and year on the back with a black felt pens.

Felt Bells

One of the best Christmas ornaments using photos is the one I got from my son’s first year Mother’s Day Out teacher. She cut blue felt and shaped it like a three inch tall bell. A smaller white felt bell was made including a hole in it to allow the photo to show through.

Glue the photo to the white felt so the picture shows through the hole. Place the white bell on top of the blue one so you see a blue border around the white bell.

Outline the edges of the white felt with glitter glue pen. Make a hole in the bell top and add a blue ribbon hanging loop.

You’re almost done. Make another bell from blue posterboard. Add it to the back of the bell to stiffen this delicate holiday Christmas ornament. Attach a small jingle bell to the ornament’s bottom. The teacher wrote my son’s name and the year on the back.

Tada! These splendid holiday craft ideas for preschoolers add life to your Christmas tree this year. Now you can admire your child’s handmade ornament.