The Twelve Days of Christmas run from Christmas Day to the Epiphany, 6th January, the day on which the wise men arrived at the stable in search of the new born Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is a time of festivities and partying, taking in New Year celebrations and marking new beginnings. At a dark time of the year it is a time for lights, fireworks – and often, high jinks – as folk let their hair down and enjoy laughter, song and mirth. Harder to do, perhaps, this year as we have to observe social distancing and the restrictions that the current pandemic brings. But there have been many inventive ways in which people have shared fellowship, mirth and goodwill – even at a distance.
Of course, it’s also a time when folk take stock, looking back over the year that’s passed and thinking ahead to the new year just begun, with all its challenges, opportunities and excitement. Perhaps it’s new resolutions that might spur you on to do something different in your way of living – or maybe you want to take time to be thankful for many good things. However you spend this period, may it be a time of hope and optimism as we ring out the old and ring in the new.
