Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas
Did you know the 12 days of Christmas start AFTER Christmas?
The 12 days of Christmas is the period that marks the span between the birth of Christ (Nativity) December 25 and runs up to January 6 Theophany (Epiphany) which is when we celebrate Christ's baptism in the Jordan! These 12 days in between offers the faithful a festal period of great joy!
As Orthodox Christians, we mark the 40 days Advent leading up to the Nativity as a period of fasting, increased prayer, and giving alms and services in order to preparing ourselves spiritually to receive the coming Lord.
After any fast, we feast! Christmas is not a one day event! In fact, we spend this period of time FEASTING in all senses of the word ... celebrating with loved ones, enjoying the all the foods we have abstained from, and joyously celebrating the Lord who is with us 🎉
So don't rush to put your Christmas decorations away! Embrace this period set aside for our joy to continue!
Here are some ideas for embracing the 12 Days of Christmas:
Here are some ideas to get your ideas flowing:
1. Bake a favorite dessert together
2. Go out for ice cream
3. Make a special Christmas drink (hot chocolate and Marshmallows, egg nog, apple cider)
4. Family movie night
5. Go big! Bowling night, ice skating, sledding, etc.
6. Go outside for a family walk/hike and sing Christmas carols
7. Make twice your normal amount of dinner and bring it to someone in need who could use a prepared meal
8. Play Christmas music and have a family dance party
9. Play a favorite board game or cards together
10. Bake cookies or a special dessert to share with your neighbors
11. Eat dinner using only candles as light
12. Invite friends over to celebrate theophany and the end of the 12 days of Christmas
Check out the 12 days of Christmas Challenge:
We have been embracing the 12 Days of Christmas for several years now. As my kids are getting older, they want to be more involved in our 12 Days of Christmas activities. So I created a 12 Days of Christmas Family Challenge. You can use our ideas or create your own (there are blank options as well)! Each day we pick one thing to do to embrace the feast during the 12 days!
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Merry Christmas! I hope the joy of the feast continues with you and your loved ones during the 12 days of Christmas!
Khouria Destinie
A Simple Way to Live the Orthodox Calendar at Home
One of the greatest treasures of the Orthodox Church is the Liturgical Calendar. Through feasts, fasts, saints, and hymns, the Church teaches us how to see time itself as holy. And yet—especially for families—it can also feel overwhelming. There is so much to remember, prepare for, and explain to our children. Over the years, I’ve learned that living the Orthodox faith at home doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing a few things intentionally. That conviction is what led me to create my new Monthly Orthodox Family Calendar Printables for 2026.