Music, Worship, Service
Home › Today's Liturgy with Children

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Jack Miffleton


“A partridge in a pear tree . . .”
Parents and teachers face a challenge when it comes to the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” They may first have to deal with five golden rings, four calling birds and three French hens! There is also the matter of some merchants who think the “12” days begin on December 13 and are the last chances to lure shoppers with a blitz of Christmas sales and advertisements.

The Liturgies of Christmas and Epiphany
The liturgical calendar counts the twelve days of Christmas from December 25 to January 6, the Feast of Epiphany. (In the United States the Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany is celebrated the first Sunday after January 1.) The history of the Nativity of Jesus is interwoven with that of Epiphany. By the third century, some Eastern churches had already begun to observe the birth of Christ on January 6 as the feast of “God’s Manifestation.” By the next century, in many places, the feasts of Christmas and Epiphany were being celebrated side by side as they are today. According to liturgical historian Dom Gregory Dix (1902–1952), this resulted in “a rough readjustment of their meanings.” Christmas remained the birthday feast while Epiphany became the commemoration of three events: the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus with his baptism by John and the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana. These events teach three mysteries that are significant in understanding the incarnate Christ: the revelation of Christ to a wider world, the appearance of God in Christ and the manifestation of God’s work in Christ at the beginning of his ministry.

The Mysteries of Epiphany Extend Beyond Christmastide
As the Christmas season draws to a close, the liturgy prods us to understand the Epiphany as more than the commemoration of these past events. The season’s mysteries continue to unfold in our lives, for the God who can be manifest in a child prepares us to see Christ present anywhere and through anyone. As Saint Paul writes, “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Through the Magi, God calls the whole human race to faith, through his baptism Jesus declares his oneness with our humanity, and finally his miracle at Cana gives us new wine of the spirit that will not run out in a new creation where our humanity can be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Epiphany Customs and Traditions
These are lofty thoughts. Children and most of us also need something concrete that we can taste and touch. Fortunately, January 6 comes with many traditions, symbols and rituals throughout the world that help children to enter fullness of this feast. In Latin countries there are celebrations with parades and processions, featuring the Three Kings. Children often find gifts from the kings when they return home from the celebrations. In the past, in parts of northern Europe, Christmas trees were taken down on January 6 and burned in a bonfire as carolers sang. It was a joyous occasion for the children. Before the tree was taken down and burned, the children would raid it for the chocolate ornaments and other decorative sweets.

The Chalking of the Door
A still popular and meaningful Epiphany ritual is “The Chalking of the Door.” This custom involves the whole family blessing the entrance to the home for a new year and preparing the home so the Magi will find Christ there. In a brief ceremony, a family writes the numerals for the current year over its door and, in the middle of the numerals, the initials CMB for the three wise men. Legend calls them Casper, Melchior and Balthasar.

For example, to celebrate Epiphany Sunday in your home in this year of 2007, you would write “20 + C + M + B + 07” over the door with chalk. Some say that the CMB stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ bless this home). Why not both? This custom is sometimes preceded by eating Epiphany bread or “King Cake” that contains a coin or trinket inside. Whoever finds the coin gets to wear a paper crown and write the inscription above the door.
Instead of using chalk, children might help fashion a small banner or plaque displaying the code. Place it over the door to your home or classroom in preparation for the feast of Epiphany.

Here is a prayer model you can use to ready your homes and hearts for the Epiphany.

A Blessing of the Home for Epiphany
(Chalking the Door)

All make the Sign of the Cross.

Leader: Peace be with this house and with all who live here. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

All respond: Amen.

Introductory comments and prayer by the leader:
After the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Magi from the east followed a star to Bethlehem where they found the newborn child and worshipped him. Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus and watched over him as he grew. As a man, Jesus preached about God’s love for all. He favored the poor, healed the sick and welcomed the children. He suffered and died for us and God raised him from the dead. He is here with us. Let us make our home a place of welcome and peace where all can see the goodness of Christ. Let us make our home a dwelling place of love.

Let us pray: Gracious God, as a shining star once guided the Magi to the birthplace of the infant Jesus, help all who dwell here to be your light in the world; through Jesus Christ we pray.
All respond: Amen.

One or two texts from Scripture may be read by family members:

Isaiah 60:1–6
(Arise, shine; for your light has come)
www.usccb.org/nab/bible/isaiah/isaiah60.htm

Matthew 2:1–12 (The visit of the Magi)
www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew2.htm

The Word of the Lord.

All respond: Thanks be to God.

At the entrance of the home:
Leader: O God, protect our going out and our coming in. Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that all who enter here may know your love and peace.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All respond: Amen.

Family members chalk the door or attach a banner or plaque with the inscription:
“20 + C + M + B + 07”

All recite: The Lord’s Prayer

The Leader prays a prayer of blessing:
Leader: Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away
and our welcome guest when we return. And at last, receive us into the dwelling place
you have prepared for us in your Father’s house, where you live for ever and ever.
Amen.

All make the Sign of the Cross as the leader concludes:
May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and may the word of Christ, in all its richness,
dwell in us so that whatever we do in word and in work, we will do in the name of the Lord.
All respond: Amen.

The blessing may conclude with “We Three Kings” or a song of praise.

(The outline of this prayer was adapted from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers , Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1988, pp. 297–301).

Jack Miffleton is a teacher and musician. His songs are sung in classrooms and churches around the world. He is theological consultant and music director for the I Am Special program published by OSV Publications. He teaches music at Saint Jarlath School in Oakland, California. He is married and has a grown son.