Happy Third Day of Christmas! A few thoughts reminding us to celebrate Christmas in the days that follow that wonderful Feast!

– by Mary Reed Newland in The Year and Our Children.

On the twelve days of Christmas my True Love sent to me the feast of St. Stephen and the story of King Wenceslaus, the feasts of St. John the Evangelist and the Holy Innocents, the feasts of the Circumcision and the Holy Name of Jesus, and the feast of the Epiphany. And on through the feast of the Holy Family and the commemoration of the Baptism of Christ.

If you are loath to bid farewell to Christmas even then, you may continue it without interruption until Candlemas Day, February 2.

However you keep it, long or short, it is a far longer season for the Catholic child than the world understands.

For him festivity is not officially over with the last wrapping torn off the last gift, or the last nut retrieved from the last toe in the last stocking.

The Church would have us enjoy this season now that it is here, and celebrate the feasts that follow.

In order to indulge exhausted parents already drained of their grandest efforts for Christmas, try keeping Christmas-week feast days simply, using Christmas treats for desserts, and storytelling, reading aloud, and charades for entertainments.

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Does your Christmas apron have beautiful stories to tell? Stories of baking and smiling children, setting up nativity scenes, leading the little ones in their Christmas novenas, lending an ear in spite of a busy household, hospitality mixed with steaming hot chocolate…. Our Christmas apron is the symbol of service in this special time of year…. ‘Tis the Season to be Christlike.