The Epiphany

Today is the Epiphany, also known as the Three Kings Day.

I know, as I have reading around, that many people take the Crib and the Tree down and all the decorations after Christmas or after New Year's Day but there are Twelve Days of Christmas, we should only take it down AFTER the Epiphany and the Crib after the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. But it's ok to put also the Crib down after the King's Day.

This was a way to teach the basics of Faith without the risk of being persecuted in that calamitous time in England when Catholics were arrested and killed In Odium Fidei.

The meaning of the lyrics is:

The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments

The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The five golden rings rerepresented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.

(https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55904/the-history-of-the-twelve-days-of-christmas)

And the Partrige means Our Lord.

As for me I will keep the Crib on till the Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas, also known as Our Lady of the Candles or the Light Day (2.February), and take the Tree and decoration after today, slowly, without stress.

Partying at

Ridge haven Homestead  for  Homestead Blog Hope

A new begining

It's a new year and, after the busy times we had on Christmas and before, we feel we need to go back to normal. 

However, we had to remember that Christmas only ended after the Epiphany: we had to have first the day of the Kings, remembering the visit they payed to the Holy Family and the presents they gave to the King of Kings.

But now let's think about the Year that is beginning. 

Make plans. Think on what you would like to achieve in this year that Our Lord gives to us. Try to be better. Plan to be a better homemaker, a better...(fill the gap). Think of what you would like to do, places to go, books to read. Things to do at home.

There is something so special about new beginnings. 

Take action, just begin and you will see things getting into shape, dreams being closer to be fulfilled.

Begin.

The twelve days of Christmas

....or why I still have my Christmas tree on.

As Christmas is not only a day but twelve, we must leave our decorations till the 6 of January - the Epiphany of the Lord - even if to put things easier many countries make the liturgical celebrations of Epiphany on the previous Sunday. Anyway, as I work outside and I am outside my home since the morning till the evening, I'm afraid we will only have all our decorations down by next Saturday, which is very much ok to me.

And now, do you, by any chance know the song The Twelve Days of Christmas ? And if you do, do you know its real meaning?

Here it is the song.

And its meaning.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” celebrates the official Christmas season which starts liturgically on Christmas Day and ends twelve days later on the Feast of the Epiphany.
 “My true love” refers to God, “me” is the individual Catholic. 
The “twelve lords a leaping” are the twelve basic beliefs of the Catholic Church as outlined in the Apostles Creed. 
The “eleven pipers piping” are the eleven Apostles who remained faithful after the treachery of Judas. 
The “ten ladies dancing” are the Ten Commandments. 
The “nine drummers drumming” are the nine choirs of angels which in those days of class distinction were thought important. 
The “eight maids a milking” are the Eight Beatitudes. 
The “seven swans a swimming” are the Seven Sacraments.
The “six geese a laying” are the Six Commandments of the Church or the six days of creation. 
The “five golden rings” are the first five books of the Old Testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament. 
The “four calling birds” are the Four Gospels. 
The “three French hens” are the Three Persons in God or the three gifts of the Wise Men. 
The “two turtle doves” represent the two natures in Jesus: human and divine or the two Testaments, Old and New. 
The “partridge” is the piece de resistance, Jesus himself, and the “pear tree” is the Cross.

http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=3465