The 12 Days of Christmas

And the 12 Reasons I've Hated Christmas Until Now

As an adult, I’ve not liked Christmas much. I’ve come close to outright hating Christmas, as Scroogie as that sounds. Hating Christmas isn’t something you can share with many people without getting shock and derision in response so, until now, I’ve been quiet about it.

For the first time, a few days ago I expressed my Christmas dread out loud to my niece. I said, Christmas is my least favorite time of year. She asked me why.

In that pause after her simple question, all I could say was, …just, I don’t know… all the shopping, and…The thing is I don’t totally and completely hate Christmas; it’s more of an uncomfortable quandary over Christmas.

Since then, it’s been on my mind, and I’ve been asking myself, what is it about Christmas that I don’t like? Here’s what I’ve come up with. This is my collection of the twelve reasons I don’t like Christmas.

The 12 Reasons I Hate Christmas

1. I’m not a shopper; I can’t abide malls or general consumerism.

2. In the days when money was tight, I was embarrassed that others gave me gifts and I had none or very little for them. The days leading up to this display of my lack were anxiety filled as was Christmas Day.

3. The absurdity of work happening between Christmas and New Year’s; I feel nothing should resume until early January, at least not until the 3rd.

4. The unbelievably unthinkable idea that people are meant to work as per usual on New Year’s Day and on Boxing Day — the day after Christmas, or on Christmas Eve.

5. Personally, I find a way to not work during the Christmas season. Yes, I’m fortunate I can do so, but my success in this is more a result of my determination than anything practical. I think it’s appalling that there isn’t a national holiday that extends from just before Christmas to after the New Year. This seems natural and humane to me as a function of winter.

6. The pressure and push to shop, wrap, make sure all presents are equal, and the tug to add more gifts, to add another recipient to the list isn’t exactly fun. Then there’s the potential or actual regret afterwards at either spending too much or not doing enough.

7. Why is it all for this one day; all this build up, and then it’s all over?

8. The discomfort of over stimulation and too much anticipation and fizzzzz… to flat… it’s done and finished in about two to five hours.

9. The letdown and carnage in the wrapping paper, tissue, boxes, and ribbons that bring guilt of wastefulness to my mind.

10. I’m not Christian, so the point of the holiday has often been lost on me.

11. Esthetically, I don’t like red very much, it can be grating and overdone.

12. And I really can’t get into “Happy Holidays”… why and where and how did that become the expression for “Merry Christmas”… which, Scrooge that I am (not) I wasn’t a fan of either! — It all just didn’t make sense to me.

On the other side of this, what is it that I love about Christmas?

The 12 Reasons I Love Christmas

1. Seeing my family; my nieces and nephews especially.

2. The pretty things like white lights, candles, greenery, gold and silver and a touch of red to brighten things up.

3. I love to give people gifts that I think of out of caring about them and knowing them that make the feel seen and loved. I’m fine with gifting someone who doesn’t give me a gift. I don’t give to get; I give out of the spirit of giving.

4. The darker shorter days of the winter season; the cold and cloudy weather that makes you want to snuggle. The early sunset that accommodates and encourages fires and candles.

5. Time to do nothing.

6. Sleeping in until you wake up naturally, lounging, having cocktails and reading or watching movies, or playing games and telling stories and laughing.

7. The food and treats. Especially since my sister makes homemade cinnamon rolls, cookies and pies that are from our family traditions of growing up in a huge family.

8. The appetizers and again, the drinks… Lovely eggnog, and marzipan in dark chocolate, chocolate covered cherries, fresh tangerines, spiced nuts, dried meats and cheese boards, and in my family — gross as it might sound — another family tradition, clam dip and potato chips.

9. The lull and hum and harmony of extended days of chilling out, letting the mood and the moment take you.

10. Time for introspection and creativity in decorating cookies, trying a new recipe or giving a shot at making bread, zoushing up the house — and maybe a little gingerbread house too.

11. I use this time of year to revamp my place and fluff things up, to deep clean and empty out clutter.

12. I resist the call to work and the worry or guilt of not working to linger in the fresh beginning of January and naturally moving into that by finishing the end of the year well and rested.

The Reluctant Christmas Scrooge

I’ve felt like the odd woman out in my attitude about Christmas. People around me seem to love the shopping rush and the cookie baking frenzy and don’t seem to mind the deadline of Christmas. — How can a holiday have a deadline?! — A day by which you do or die?

So, up until now I’ve played along and done Christmas the way that other people do. And I don’t like it.

Then, all of a sudden…!! Oh, Holy night! I was watching a Christmas baking competition show on Hulu. The episode was the finale heat, deciding the winner of the competition. The bakers were charged with baking and decorating a cake designed to reflect the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. (Holiday Baking Championship S4:E7)

Me being me, I was compelled to pause the show and to look up the origin and meaning of these twelve glorious and magical sounding days of Christmas filled with festive things like lords-a-leaping and gold rings. I’d always thought these twelve days were the days leading up to Christmas, you know all the anticipation and preparation we carry out culminating in voila: Christmas.

Lo and behold, what I found was the opposite! And an explanation and support for the way I feel about Christmas… my longing and instinct for a span of days arcing from near Christmas extending into January… it was all here!

Renewed Holiday Meaning in the 12 Days of Christmas

This is it: The twelve days of Christmas begin with Christmas Day and run through January 5th!! Each day is meant to be a special yet sensibly calm and beautiful day. Bounty of the season is spread out over this time of visiting, appreciating and sharing with one another — and one’s self.

Imagine a slow and easy gathering of small gifts and collecting and shopping for recipes knowing it was all to be savored at your leisure over a span of twelve long short days? Think of the benefits and treasures this holds.

1. No more worrying that a gift won’t be available or arrive in time for that one single ominous Christmas Day.

2. Dreaming up the perfect gift can take its own time! A gift can be given on any of the twelve days to a loved one.

3. Real time to visit with people; letting go of the idea that this one day is the all-important day, and whoever we’re with on this one day is the key person in our life, and that the others then are less important.

4. Think of getting and decorating a Christmas tree or decking the halls from December 23rd or so on, knowing that all this is here to enjoy over these very special twelve days.

5. And imagine this includes the transition into the New Year so that it can be acknowledged and embraced in civility and contemplation rather than on one raucous drunken — or one lonely and alone — night with a hangover of sadness or nausea or both.

6. For those who are Christian, a daily mass or church service during these twelve days invites a spiritual oasis and time to deepen faith.

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like heaven to me. This — this year and going forward — will be my way of handling the Holiday season. This approach gives sense to the moniker “the Holidays” as a string of glistening days of rest and joy and gives life to wishing you a, Happy Twelve Days of Christmas!

The 12 Days of Christmas Love Lasts the Year Round

The song is sung and performed in many ways ranging from The King’s Singers and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, orchestra and dancer’s performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas to the simplicity of a children’s school performance, to Bing Crosby’s nostalgic rendition.

Some say the whimsical and sweet lyrics to the Twelve Days of Christmas came to be out of a game. Others say the lyrics have hidden messages of Christianity.

The truly remarkable hidden snip I find meaning in is that when you add and multiply all the gifts given there are a total of 364 gifts. A gift for each day of the year save one from our true love. — Can this signify the joy, love, and peace we’re meant to feel year-long?

I’ve found valdiation in my urges about how to spend these winter weeks and a renewed and new meaning in Christmas. All in all, it looks as if while I’ve felt guiltily like a bit of a Scrooge, I’ve had the original Christmas spirit all along. Once again, as I often say, it’s best to trust our gut.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Lyrics

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Colly Birds (a black feathered bird)
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Colly Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Colly Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Colly Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Colly Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Colly Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Happy First Day of Christmas! Sending you a partridge in a pear tree. Two turtle doves, three French hens. Ladies dancing, lords leaping, and maids milking. Colly birds, dummers drumming, swans swimming, geese laying. Pipers piping, and five golden rings.

Sending all good things, and a Happy Christmas!

Jennifer Smith