It’s a sign of just how far Christmas has strayed from being a religious celebration that most people have no clue that the Twelve Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day and run through to Epiphany in January. Basically, one celebrates Christ’s birth on Christmas, then His baptism on Epiphany.
Instead,we get the Twelve Days of Savings and similar promotions starting sometimes as early as Black Friday in November:
Now, I’m not one to talk about secularization of the season — I don’t go to church and I certainly didn’t learn about Epiphany until well into adulthood — but if you’re going to hijack a concept at least get it right.
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of getting it right, you know those five golden rings in the song about the 12 days? They originally referred to ring-necked pheasants, not jewelry. That makes much more sense in a song about livestock now doesn’t it?
For those of you who now have the song embedded in your brain, I suggest listening to the Canadian classic version by everyone’s favourite Hosers, now animated: