I cannot remember exactly when, but it has only been in the last ten years that I found out that the 12 Days of Christmas do not start until Christmas Day. The 12th Day of Christmas is January 6, which is Epiphany.
Epiphany is also the day when we celebrate the coming of the Magi/Wise Men. In some cultures, the coming of the Magi is celebrated with much more significance. For some, they do not even give gifts to one another until then. It is a way to remember the Magi bringing gifts to the Christ Child.
Since I found out about that tradition, I have not put the Three Wise Men with our manger scene until January 6. I don’t even bring them out of the box until Christmas Day. Over the 12 Days of Christmas I move them around the living room as if they are traveling and following the star. (Go ahead and laugh. It is like a kid playing with all the characters in the Christmas manger play set, but it also meaningful for the big kid in me.) It might make you fee better if I told you I thought about moving the manger when I brought the Wise Mean out this year, but I resisted. I did not put the Wise Men outside either when I realized the manger was on east side of the room–meaning the Wise Men would be coming from the north, south, or west unless I put them outside.
I do sometimes take the Christmas tree down and put away some of the other decorations before Epiphany, but I let the manger scene and the Advent wreath out until Epiphany. Those days of Christmas have become a special time after the hurry of all the family celebrations are over. It is a quiet time–a time to be able to really ponder God’s gifts to us–Jesus.
Knowing what I do with my Willow Tree manger during Advent might make you chuckle too. The manger is always empty. Pregnant Mary and Joseph get to travel around our living room with the donkey.
I found a pregnant Willow Tree figure at a garage sale once, and knew just what I wanted to do with it. (This year Mary and Joseph actually traveled with the camel. Above is an older picture. Does it actually say Mary traveled on a donkey in the bible? I need to look that up. A few times I have found that what I think is in the bible is really only an artist’s interpretation of the story. Maybe I will tell about that another time.)
Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany (on Monday)!
