our tree

The days after Christmas are actually my favorites.

The packages are opened, the food is served, the kids are busy, and gift cards are waiting.   And yes, we have tape stuck on the carpet, tags and ribbons everywhere, stocking stuffers with no home, a humongous pile of garbage/recycling, and a slight sense of guilt for the abundance. Still, I feel like the real vacation begins today. Now I can enjoy the family time, play games, and relax together without the pressures of holiday hype and preparation. I could wax on wondering about how we’ve distorted Christmas with our high expectations, but for now I just want to enjoy the aftermath.

I’ve just recently learned that the “Twelve Days of Christmas” we’ve sung about for so long actually begin on December 25th.  Maybe you all knew that, but my wise ten-year-old son clued me in and then I noticed smarter bloggers with posts on the topic.  The traditional Christmas actually begins on December 25th and runs until Twelfth Night on January 5th, followed by Epiphany, the celebration of the arrival of the magi at the manger in Bethlehem.  Which, historians say, actually happened a couple of years after Jesus’ birth (this part I knew!).

This year, it seems especially fitting to me that the spiritual part can begin after the cultural part is done.   For my twelve-ish days of Christmas, I’m looking forward to a sabbath time of sorts with my family.  No partridges or maids-a-milking, though.  Now that the boxes are checked and the big stuff is done, I hope to reconnect, regroup, rewind, and recharge my spirit for the new year.  I’m hoping this will be easier than trying to manufacture the “best Christmas ever”, but of course there are five of us in the house, with all that that entails.  We’ll see how it goes, and of course, I’ll keep you posted.

Here’s wishing you the best aftermath ever.  Whatever your traditions, I hope you find the last week of 2008 peaceful and rejuvenating.