How the 12 Days of Christmas Song Helped Us Keep Christ in Christmas: From Frenzy to Fruitfulness
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Introduction: More Than One Day
For most of my life, Christmas felt like a whirlwind. The shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, and parties all crammed into a few frantic hours on December 25. And then—just like that—it was over. By December 26, trees lay on the curb and holiday joy had vanished.
But then, one Advent season, I encountered life-changing truth: Christmas is not meant to be lived in 12 hours, but in 12 days. From December 25 through January 6, the Church has long celebrated the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi. This discovery came in the form of an Advent letter from our parish Priest and it transformed our holiday season from frenzy to fruitfulness, and it inspired me to create a new song with an old tune: Our Father Gave to Us the 12 Days of Christmas.
My Story of Transformation
As a young mom, I often felt behind—never on time, never on budget, never meeting everyone’s expectations. The joy of Christmas seemed swallowed by stress. But when I learned that the true celebration begins on Christmas Day and extends to the Epiphany, everything shifted.
Instead of rushing through, I began savoring. Each day became a gift: a time for reflection, prayer, and family traditions. I no longer dreaded the season. I lived it. This transformation rooted me deeper in faith and inspired me to create resources to help other families reclaim the full rhythm of Christmas.
The History of the 12 Days of Christmas
The tradition of celebrating Christmas over twelve days dates back centuries to the Council of Tours in 567 AD. At that time the Christian church of the east celebrated the holiest day of the season as January 6, The Epiphany or the Manifestation of God. The Christian church of the west celebrated the holiest day as the Sacred Nativity of Our Lord, December 25. The Church in her wisdom brought together the church of the east and the west by establishing “The Holy Days” or the 12 Days of Christmas.
- December 25: The Nativity of the Lord.
- December 26 – January 5: Feasts honoring saints and mysteries of faith, including St. Stephen, the Holy Innocents, and Mary the Mother of God.
- January 6: The Feast of the Epiphany, marking the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child.
Throughout history, these days were filled with liturgies, feasts, and cultural traditions across Europe. In Ireland, England, and beyond, communities celebrated not just a single holy day, but a holy season.
Sadly, in modern culture, these traditions faded. Retail sales and marketing have convinced us that Christmas begins in October and “ends” on December 25. But the Church invites us to live into the mystery of the incarnation, of God becoming man for nearly two weeks.
An Irish Connection: The Secret Code
As an Irish descendant, I was especially drawn to Father Stockert’s the story of the 17th-century Irish Catholic code behind The 12 Days of Christmas. See (Father Stockert’s story)During the Penal Times, Catholics in Ireland faced persecution and had to preserve their faith quietly. Some suggest the song served as a catechism tool, using coded symbols to teach truths of the faith.
Whether fully historical or partly legend, the story captivated me. More importantly, it reminded me that every verse of the song can point us back to God’s gifts. That conviction led me to write a new version of the carol, re-centering Christ at the heart of the season.
The Traditional Lyrics
Here are the words of the well-loved English carol:
The Twelve Days of Christmas (Traditional)
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
Three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
(Continue through all twelve verses, building up each gift until the twelfth day with “twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping,” etc.)
A New Song with an Old Tune
Out of my transformation came a new carol:
Our Father Gave To Us The 12 Days of Christmas
Written by Rebecca Even
On the first day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, A Savior in the Manger
On the second day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Two Testaments
On the third day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Three in one
On the fourth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Four Gospel Preachers
On the fifth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Five Holy Books
On the sixth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Six Creation Days
On the seventh day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Seven Sacred Gifts
On the eighth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Eight Blessed Beatitudes
On the ninth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Nine Choir of Angels
On the tenth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Ten Good Commandments
On the eleventh day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Eleven Faithful Apostles
On the twelfth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Twelve Teachers Teachings
This song has become part of my family’s Christmas tradition, sung with joy and gratitude through the season. It’s also been shared in book form, as an ornament kit, and through music projects—helping families everywhere rediscover the richness of the 12 Days.
Living the 12 Days Today
Here are some ways you can celebrate the season more fully:
- Crafts & Keepsakes: Make ornaments, votive candles, or garlands that honor God’s gifts of faith for each day of Christmas.
- Faith Practices: Light a votive candle each day of Christmas , pray together, or read scripture daily.
- Music & Joy: Sing the carols, both traditional and faith-inspired, as a family.
- Epiphany Blessings: Mark your home with the Epiphany chalk blessing on January 6.
Living all 12 days deepens the peace and joy of Christmas. Instead of burning out, you are filled up.
Conclusion: An Invitation
My story began in stress but transformed into celebration. By learning that Christmas doesn’t end on December 25—it truly begins—I found peace, rhythm, and gratitude.
Now I invite you to join me:
- Reclaim the 12 Days of Christmas for your family.
- Discover the gifts of faith hidden in each day.
- Visit www.HowToKeepChristInChristmas.com for resources and inspiration.
- Take the Live the 12 Days Challenge to support Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, just 1,500 steps from where Christ was born.
Let’s live Christmas not in 12 hours of frenzy, but in 12 days of faith-filled joy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lesson that changed everything is this: Christmas doesn’t end on December 25—it begins. Embracing the Church’s rhythm and living the Twelve Days with faith-filled traditions keeps Christ at the center, bringing true joy and peace.
The most important thing on Christmas Day is and always will be Jesus Himself. By celebrating all 12 days with prayer, Scripture, song, and acts of charity, we keep Christ at the center, renew our faith, and join in His mission of love.
In today’s culture, Christmas is often rushed and reduced to shopping, but its true meaning is found in welcoming Christ through the Church’s rhythm of Advent and the 12 days of Christmas. By embracing prayer, gratitude, family traditions, and service, we reclaim the season as a time of peace, love, and generosity centered on Christ.
Hi, I am Rebecca Even
CEO Of A.M.D.G. Productions LLC
Catholic author, Speaker, Songwriter but not a singer, Rebecca Even is a wife and mother with a passion for working with women especially mothers of all ages.
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