“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and havingsalvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

As the week celebrating the birth of the Christ child draws to a close, ask yourself:How are you keeping Christ’s love and Christmas truly present during the next 12 days?  

If you are familiar with the popular Christmas song, you know that 12 gifts are given. Their significance is far greater than what we may think at first. For example, the two turtle doves are significant for the Old and New Testament, the four calling birds represent the four Gospel writers, and the “true love” in the song is actually a representation of the truest love, Jesus Christ. During this time, we are called to focus our attention not on gifts, but on the season of Christmas in which we rejoice!

The 12 days of Christmas are significant to Catholics because they are the days in between Jesus’ birth and the Epiphany. This is the true Christmas season in which we are called to rejoice and indulge! The 12 days of Christmas are so important because they call us to reflect on the significance of the Incarnation in our lives. Christmas commemorates the most momentous event in human history—the entry of God into the world He made, in the form of a precious child. 

For some, it may seem as though the Christmas season begins early in November and ends promptly on the 25th. However, earlier Catholics did not even begin their Christmas decorating until December 24th, the eve of Christmas. Sometimes, a “12th Night” celebration was thrown, simply to send off the joyous season with a bang. 

The 12 days after December 25th are meant for celebrating all of the blessings we meditated on during the Advent season. This is the time to sing out the praises of the Lord and celebrate among friends and family, for He has sent His only Son to save us! 

Beloved one, spend this week focusing on the true gift of Christmas: Love Himself! Rejoice in His divine grace, place your hope in Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s prophecy, and pause to peacefully reflect on the season each day. And, take time to praise the king of Israel through the intercession of the Blessed Mother with a Ghirelli Magnificat Rosalet. 

We want to leave you with a prayer to help keep the Christmas season truly present throughout your days. Share with a loved one to encourage them to continue celebrating the season. 

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION PRAYER 

Amen!