When do the 12 days of Christmas start? Confused? So were we, here's

Are you as confused as the rest of us on when the 12 days of Christmas actually start? Don’t worry we did some research so you don’t have to.

Given we start seeing Christmas items coming out in October these days, it might seem hard to believe that the actual 12 days of Christmas start the day of.

The fabled song the 12 days of Christmas puts forth the ideal gifts to be given leading up to Epiphany, not Christmas Day on Dec. 25 like so many people think. Like many of the traditions people who celebrate Christmas uphold, they are rooted into a time when Christianity was the dominant religion that celebrated the holiday. And of course, they came with a dash of the old Pagan beliefs that were assimilated into the religion.

Here’s a look at the 12 days of Christmas and what it has to do with Epiphany.

Table of Contents

When are the 12 days of Christmas?

The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day on Dec. 25 and run through the new year until Jan. 6, the Epiphany. These 12 days leading up to the Epiphany mark the birth of the religious figure Jesus. Usually the time is celebrated with feasts honoring different saints and time together with family.

The idea of multiple day celebrations predate modern Christianity though. Pagan religions held sometimes month long celebrations during the time of the winter solstice (which falls on Dec. 21) to honor their gods, according to History.com.

In Norse culture, the December celebration is called Yule ―which is a name still used today during Christmas festivities― which was celebrated starting on the winter solstice through January. The time recognized the return of the sun, and families would bring large logs to their homes to burn. During the time, they would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days, according to History.com.

How much would the 12 days of Christmas gifts cost in 2024?

There are a lot of gifts in the song, “12 days of Christmas”, so how much would it cost to buy them in 2024? USA TODAY found out just how much you would have to pay to get all of the presents in the song…and it’s not cheap. Take a look:

When is the feast of the Epiphany?

Three Kings Day and the feast day of the Epiphany are on the same day, celebrated on Jan. 6. Both represent the day the Three Wise Men—Los Tres Reyes Magos—gave gifts to Jesus Christ.

References to Christians’ commonly held Epiphany rituals started by the fourth century A.D., according to Concordia Seminary.

What does Epiphany mean?

Epiphany comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia” which means “appearance” or “manifestation,” and it refers to the manifestation of Jesus to the world, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

When does Advent 2024 end?

Advent this year runs through Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

When is the winter solstice 2024?

The winter solstice falls on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4:19 a.m. ET/3:19 a.m. CT.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When are the 12 days of Christmas? When is Epiphany?

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