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The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 6th). On the updated calendar — since Ephiphany is celebrated on a Sunday — these days may be more or less. We have 20 days on the tree because this year the Christmas season extends until the feast of the Baptism of Christ and we have decided to include them all.The origin of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy...

December 27, 2004Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist Reading I1 Jn 1:1-4 Beloved:What was from the beginning,what we have heard,what we have seen with our eyes,what we looked uponand touched with our handsconcerns the Word of life– for the life was made visible;we have seen it and testify to itand proclaim to you the eternal lifethat was with the Father and was made visible to us– what we have seen and heardwe proclaim now to you,so that you too may have fellowship with us;for our fellowship is with the Fatherand with his Son, Jesus Christ.We are writing this so...