The actual Christmas Season in most Western church traditions begins at sunset on Christmas eve, December 24, and lasts through January 5 (the Twelve Days of Christmas.) On January 6th we celebrate Epiphany . The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." On that day we remember the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King. It's for that reason Nativity creches are incorrect to have the Wise Men as part of the display. But..............between you and me, I would never leave out the Wise Men. Heck - they're the ones wearing all the cool bling and carrying gobs of expensive gifts. But, I digress...
For many of us Christmas ends on December 25th after the last feast or party. I even knew a woman who took down her tree and decorations on Christmas eve because she was "sick of the clutter." If you've put up your tree and other decorations the day after Thanksgiving, I can certainly sympathize with ripping them down the day after Christmas. Give some thought next year to delaying the tree and other goodies until closer to Christmas and leaving them up until Epiphany.
Both paintings by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (December 31, 1617 (baptized) – April 3, 1682)
