28 December 2007
The German word “tannenbaum” means “fir tree” or less specifically “evergreen tree.” The first recorded words about the pretty evergreen tree ever sung to the tune you now have swimming in your head seem to have been written in the sixteenth century. But, the tune is an even older folk melody. A melody that’s been floating through my brain while I decorate!
Yep. I finally got my little tree up and decorated! I might be the only person you know who decorates their holiday tree after Christmas Day! But, it’s done, now. I will have as a goal for next year, to get it done by the 24th, but hey . . . whatever! It’s still Christmas! The Christmas holiday traditionally lasts twelve days. And contrary to the way the modern media- and retail-driven world would have us think, those twelve days don’t start until the 25th! Prior to Christmastide, you have the Advent season in the Christian world. And a few days of Yuletide for the non-Christian-yet-ritualistic set. But, the Twelve Days of Christmas, made familiar to us in song, last from the 25th of December until the fifth of January, known as Twelfth Night. In Medieval and even Renaissance times, Twelfth Night was the culmination of all the holiday revelry. Gifts were exchanged, dances were danced, feasts were as plentiful as money would allow. And the very next day, the 6th of January, is the Christian Feast Day of the Epiphany—a day that celebrates the revelation of Jesus to the world; specifically it commemorates the arrival of the Magi, or three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus. And as such, it was a joyous, but very religious day for our ancestors. So, it was during the Twelve Days of Christmas that the real partying happened.
This history lesson has been brought to you by . . . <giggle> It all simply serves to justify my timing and hopefully to inspire all of you to remember to keep celebrating!
~MB
That was a thoroughly delightful and extremely educational bit of rationalization. Hope your tweve nights are grand, and keep the noise down on New Year’s Eve, so those of us who are not in attendance (and far,far away, unfortunately) don’t have to call and admonish you.