It’s one of our most popular carols. Yet few know that the verses of The Twelve Days of Christmas are based on the season of Epiphany, or the period between December 25th and January 6th. The word epiphany means “manifestation” and refers in particular to the revelation of Jesus as Savior of all the peoples of the world. Christmas is popularly understood to end, not begin, on December 25th. Consequently, Epiphany has been relegated to utter obscurity, an afterthought that appears as a curious inscription on a pastor’s program planning calendar.

Many have written about recovering the proper context of Epiphany and the spiritual value of celebrating Christmas as a twelve-day event. Here are a few ideas:

• Schedule your church Christmas decorating party late in Advent. Plan this months in advance and secure commitments from parishioners for specific responsibilities.
• Rename the “Sundays after Christmas” as the “Sundays of Christmas (tide)” so the idea of a continuing season becomes familiar.
• Encourage the scheduling of church and family Christmas events during the twelve days of Christmas. These might include services for the day of Christmas, a fourth night concert, a twelfth night party, and so forth.
• Schedule an annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols during the twelve days. The singing of Christmas carols in one service reinforces the twelve days’ tradition.
• Include on your church calendar the minor festival days that are related to Christmas:
  • December 26 for St. Stephen, deacon and martyr
  • December 27 for St. John, Apostle and evangelist
  • December 28 for the Holy Innocents
  • The First Sunday of Christmas, also known as Holy Family
  • January 1 for The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • The First Sunday after Epiphany for The Baptism of the Lord
  • February 2 (the 40th day counting from Christmas) for The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple

The identity and character of January 6^th ought to be centered in the liturgy for Epiphany. Whatever else is planned for the occasion should not detract from this central focus. Because Epiphany usually falls on a weekday, the celebration is likely to be an evening one. When Epiphany falls on a Lord’s Day, the Eucharist may be celebrated at the morning service and the annual evening Epiphany events can be centered around Epiphany vespers or evening prayer.

The Epiphany service of Word and sacrament may be colored in ways complementary to the readings of the day. Congregations that are otherwise ambivalent to the use of incense in worship may be open to the use of frankincense on this night. Children present may be invited to add the magi to the crèche scene. After the service, the Christmas decorations can be taken down. At the conclusion of the evening, all may gather for a celebratory meal.

To the degree that a congregation respects the integrity of Advent and celebrates Christmas as a twelve-day festival of the Incarnation, Epiphany will be less a postscript and more the Christmas finale that is rightly its glory.