The 12 Days of Christmas: A Time for Rest, Reflection, and Renewal

Christmas is tomorrow. Are You Ready? Chances are, you’ve been rushing around, trying to make the holiday perfect for everyone—cooking, wrapping gifts, and making plans with family and friends. It’s a joyful time, but it’s also exhausting. Before the big day arrives, I want to share a moment that shifted my perspective on this season.

Growing up, Christmas was all about the single day. Once the presents were opened, the magic seemed to end. The tree came down, the decorations were packed up, and life resumed as though the holiday had been another task to check off the list. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve seen Christmas differently. Now, I embrace the beauty of the Twelve Days of Christmas—not as just a song but as a season of rest, reflection, and renewal.

Years ago, on Christmas Eve, I ran into a Jewish friend at the grocery store (yes, I’d forgotten something last minute!). As we chatted, she said something that stopped me: “I notice how tired my Christian friends are after the holidays. I’m glad I don’t have to do all that work. Tomorrow, we’ll just have dinner at a Chinese restaurant and relax.”

Her words lingered with me. Why are we in such a frenzy to prepare for one day? And when Christmas Day is over, what are we left with—just exhaustion? That conversation made me pause. I started to wonder: Is Christmas a religious practice for me, or has it become more of a cultural expectation? Could it be both? And most importantly, how could I make it more meaningful?

Honoring Tradition in a New Way

Growing up, my mother had a practical approach to Christmas. By the afternoon of December 25, she was already packing up the decorations and taking down the tree. As a child, I couldn’t understand it. Didn’t the holiday just begin?

Later, I realized why she did it. She often had to work the next day and needed the house back in order. As I got older, I appreciated the practicality of her approach, but I’ve chosen a different path.

For me, Christmas doesn’t end on December 25. It begins. The 12 Days of Christmas, historically known as Christmastide, stretch from December 25 to January 5. They culminate on January 6 with the Feast of the Epiphany, honoring the Magi’s journey to Bethlehem. These days aren’t about rushing. They’re about slowing down, savoring, and reflecting.

Following Christmas dinner with my family, I head home, put on my pajamas, gather my snacks, grab a book, and enjoy this time. In my world, Christmas has now begun. December 25 is the first day of my holiday season.

In our modern world, the Twelve Days of Christmas often go unnoticed. Decorations come down, the calendar flips, and we’re already thinking about what’s next. But what if we reclaimed this time? What if it became a bridge—a pause to reflect on what the season truly means and to step into the new year with intention?

A Bridge Between Holidays and the New Year

That Christmas Eve conversation with my friend made me think deeply about how I approach this season. Was I letting Christmas become another cultural event, or was I carving out space for what it truly meant to me?

The Twelve Days of Christmas offer us a rare chance to pause, reconnect, and recharge. It’s not about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about permitting yourself to breathe.

Here are a few simple ways you might embrace these days:

• Rest: Leave the decorations up to New Year’s. Watch your favorite holiday movie. Eat cookies for breakfast. Let this time be one of recovery and joy.
• Reflect: Take a quiet moment to think about the year that’s passed. What brought you joy? What challenges shaped you? Write it down or hold those thoughts in your heart if you'd like.
• Reconnect: Call a friend you haven’t seen in a while, host a simple dinner on January 6 for the Epiphany, or spend quality time with yourself.

Finding Peace and Possibility

I’ve learned that these twelve days can also be a time to dream about what’s next. Instead of rushing into resolutions, I ask myself: What do I want more of in my life? What do I need to let go of?

Here’s how I approach it:

1. Look Back on 2024​
   Think about what brought you joy this year. What moments made you smile? What challenges helped you grow? Reflecting on these questions can help you focus on what matters most.
2. Set Intentions for 2025​
   Forget rigid resolutions. Instead, focus on what you want to invite into your life. Is it creativity, connection, or adventure? Use these days to envision possibilities for the year ahead.
3. Create Space for What’s Next​
   Let go of what no longer serves you. Maybe it’s clearing out clutter, saying no to an obligation, or releasing an old habit. Even small changes can make room for something new.

A Blend of Rest and Joy

I’ll spend New Year’s near New Orleans with friends this year, soaking up the region’s food, laughter, and traditions. I love how the Epiphany blends into Mardi Gras, creating a transition between reflection and celebration. It reminds me that life moves in cycles, and each season brings gifts.

Your Invitation

This year, I hope you’ll join me in reclaiming the Twelve Days of Christmas—not as a chore or an obligation, but as a gift. Whether Christmas is a religious practice or a cultural celebration, these days can be whatever you need them to be—a time of rest, reflection, or simply savoring what makes you happy.

Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

• Take a long walk and breathe in the winter air.
• Journal your thoughts or create a vision board for 2025.
• Celebrate the Epiphany with a small gathering or meaningful meal.
• Spend time alone, reading, reflecting, or doing nothing at all.

When January 6 arrives, let it mark not just the end of the Christmas season but the beginning of a new chapter filled with purpose, joy, and possibility.

What will your Twelve Days of Christmas look like this year? Share your plans—I’d love to hear how you make this season your own.

Wishing you peace, rest, and joy this holiday season and a bright, hopeful new year.

Mary Harvey

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