We’ve reached the end of our 12 Days of Christmas meditations. Today is the Feast of the Epiphany—when we remember the arrival of the Wise Men (Magi) in Bethlehem.
The 12th day is reserved for the 12 articles of the Apostle’s Creed. I have to admit I didn’t know that there were 12 sections or articles:
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
2. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into Hell; on the third day He rose from the dead.
6. He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
7. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints,
10. The forgiveness of sins,
11. The resurrection of the body,
12. And life everlasting. Amen
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
2. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into Hell; on the third day He rose from the dead.
6. He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
7. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints,
10. The forgiveness of sins,
11. The resurrection of the body,
12. And life everlasting. Amen
I think it is a good way to end these days, with drums announcing that the Lord had been born and that we are saved because of our belief in Jesus Christ’s life and ministry. Drummers are important in bands to keep the beat and by their steady pounding, can be like the heartbeat of a song. One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Little Drummer Boy” because he brings what he has—his gift of music. That is what we should each offer—the best gift we have, when we come to the newborn King.
There are many traditions associated with Epiphany. One of them is the Three Kings Cake. Three Kings Cake can also be made as a yeast bread and many recipes for it can be found online. Often a bean and pea are baked inside the cake. The lucky person to find the tokens is the king or queen for the day.You can find other fun Epiphany customs at: http://fullhomelydivinity.org/articles/Epiphanyfullpage.htm. This is the one I developed to use in my January Footprints Newsletter. (You can read the newsletter here, if you want. http://cynthiadavisauthor.com/newsletter0109.pdf).
Three Kings Cake
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup raisins, currants, and/or chopped dates
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Honey, cherries & nuts for garnish
Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Mix flour and spices. Add with milk to butter mixture. Fold in fruits. Pour into greased and floured pan. Bake at 300o for approximately 2 hours. Cool slightly, turn out of pan. Cool completely. Drizzle with honey and decorate with chopped cherries and nuts.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve 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 calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Three Kings Cake
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup raisins, currants, and/or chopped dates
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Honey, cherries & nuts for garnish
Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Mix flour and spices. Add with milk to butter mixture. Fold in fruits. Pour into greased and floured pan. Bake at 300o for approximately 2 hours. Cool slightly, turn out of pan. Cool completely. Drizzle with honey and decorate with chopped cherries and nuts.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve 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 calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Whether the song (Twelve Days of Christmas) was ever used as a memorization aid for teaching children the precepts of faith, I hope you have been enriched by exploring the symbolism assigned to each day and that you have had your own epiphany (the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something) about the meaning of this often forgotten time right after Christmas. I have certainly gained a new appreciation for the beauty of the song and the meaning of this Holy Season. It is sort of like looking at this art depicting the Last Supper at Peace Lutheran in Las Cruces, NM. The more you look at it, the more depth and meaning you see.
Blessings to you in this Epiphany season. I’ll be offering Lenten meditations starting on Ash Wednesday (February 25). Hope you will check back then. 