12 Days of Christmas, Part 1

Here in our home we are celebrating the 12 days of Christmas. This is the third year we have tried to do this. Many people have asked why we do this. Greg and I talked a few years ago about how the commercialization of Christmas has really begun to overshadow Advent preparation time and the spiritual meaning of Christmas.

We have chosen to celebrate the 12 Days based off of the traditional catholic and Orthodox Christmas Celebrations. We did a lot of research and found a list of days that work for us. So far this has been a very positive way to reflect on Christ and Christmas.

So far we have celebrated seven days so I will just explain those:

1) Christmas Day, the Feast of the Holy Nativity. We had a simple meal of ham, spinach and sweet potatoes for a meal and remembered the birth of our Holy Savior with gifts, stockings and family time.

2) The Feast of Saint Stephen (the martyr). This is the day to remember the martyrs and to express thankfulness for travel. We went to lunch at a local winery with Greg's Dad and Rachel to celebrate. It was a wonderful trip.

Evangeline at the winery.

And a view of the Missouri River.

3) On the Third Day of Christmas, or Saint John the Beloved Day. We prayed for reflection on this day and celebrated the birthday of our a dear friend Joy as well. This is a day to celebrate with close friends. We took our friends to St. Louis to enjoy Ethiopian food. Evangeline opened a running suit that day before we left the house (she was still opening Christmas presents).

Evangeline in her running suit.

Hank and Joy read about Orthodox Christianity in the Ethiopian food menu.

4) The fourth day of Christmas or Holy Innocents Day. We celebrated the youngest ones in my family with Evangeline's favorite foods: pancakes, fried rice and macaroni and cheese. My first little sister Catelyn turned 28 on that day too. 

5) Revelation that the old law has been fulfilled and our Savior has come. We spent time at home watching movies after attending Church and serving as assisting ministers.

6) The sixth day honors the six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1). On this day the father of the family gives a blessing to his children just as God has blessed us. Greg blessed me with a trip to get a pedicure and new pajamas, while he spent some quality time with his little girl. Greg and I also got to go out to a movie and see Saving Mr. Banks. We ate Chicken, stuffing and Brussels sprouts.

7) The seventh day of Christmas honors the fruits of the spirit. We ended up celebrating with fruit cake, and praying for God to give us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control in the next year.

I'll update more later. For now Happy New Year's Eve. I'll be writing a post reflecting on 2013 and posting it tomorrow.