The first day of Christmas

Merry Christmas!  Today is the beginning, not the end, of the traditional twelve days of the Christmas season, which last through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. It should be no surprise that Russell Kirk left us some sage advice about celebrating this time of year, and the goods folks over at The Imaginative Conservative have done a tremendous service by reprinting Kirk's views of Christmas merry-making:  The Twelve Days of Christmas. As Kirk recommends:  "Spend less, and celebrate more."  Grand Yuletide advice from the Sage of Mecosta!

Today's holiday -- the Feast of the Nativity in the Catholic liturgical calendar -- is an ancient one. The name "Christmas" comes from Anglo-Saxon, "Cristes Maesse" or "Christ's Mass."  The English translations of readings for Mass today commemorating the Birth of Jesus Christ may be found here.

Now, for three of my favorite carols for the Nativity, all sung by the King's Choir of Cambridge, England:







I wish all my readers a blessed and happy Feast of the Nativity, as well as a very merry Christmas season.