The Launch of Twelve Days for Christmas

The launch of Christmas is similar to a snowball rolling downhill. It increases in size and speed in much the same way as children’s excitement soars to fever pitch the closer it comes to the day. Perhaps as adults we, too, feel a sense of something big about to take off. That is, between the hustle of the season, perhaps there are moments of nostalgia for the recapture of long-ago, happy Christmases – the ones we selectively remember from childhood that bring smiles to our faces.

For weeks we wait and then the final candle on the Christian advent wreath gets lit – the one that signals the arrival of Christmas and all that we hope for.

As for me, I am busy throughout. Sick with cough and cold leading up to Christmas day and after there is no time for quiet fireside reflection with cocoa in hand. If I’d had any energy I would have been disappointed – Christmas comes and goes and it feels like I miss it. Everything seems messy and out of place. It wasn’t what I expected.

Twelve Days To Stretch

How thankful I am, though, that many Christian church calendars allow Christmas to stretch over twelve days. Very disappointing otherwise – all that build up only to be over in one day. It reminds me of the momentary glory of the traditional lighting of an English Christmas pudding – a brilliant combustion of energy when flame is paired to fruit-laden and brandy-soaked pudding. The display lights up any who witness its illumination but in an instant it is over; wonderful but sadly short.

But twelve days to absorb Christmas is a welcome gift. Surely it is possible to break for a while from working, cooking, cleaning and entertaining. I am relieved – twelve days signals there is time to rest and linger, to reflect on the Christmas flame alight but muted within my heart. I have time to poke the fire – to make come alive the gift of God in a manger and read within the flickering light what that means to me.

I draw up my easy chair. It is time to sit by the fire with cocoa in hand.