… six geese-a-laying and all the other gifts from the previous five days. I started this post last night so I’m still going with the 6^th day. By now my home should be filled with 6 geese-a-laying, 10 gold rings, 12 Colly (calling) birds, 12 French hens, 10 turtle doves, and 6 partridges. But it’s not, thankfully–at least from the standpoint of multiple days of birds. The drummers, ladies waiting, and lords-a-leaping might be fun.

My house is, however, still filled with 18 empty stockings, 8 still-blooming red poinsettias, 4 nativity sets waiting for 12 traveling Wise Men, 4 long strands of icicle lights hanging from the rafters, and 1 live Christmas tree still sparkling with ornaments, lights, and tinsel–though its elegant arms are beginning to droop from fatigue and the ceremonial undressing will begin soon. We’re only halfway through the Christmas season so everything stays up.

But I have put some of the gingerbread house ‘décor’ (read candy) in the freezer and some in the kitchen trash so walk-by nibbling is eliminated.

When I looked up the traditional carol, I was surprised to read one of the earlier renditions was written as ‘My mother gave to me …’, not a true love. Since the earliest known version of the song is from 1780, maybe a house full of birds is what a mom would give her child for Christmas back then? The five gold rings originally possibly referred to a pheasant with five yellow bands around its neck, so more birds!

I’d once read that each gift had a corresponding Christian meaning, the 6^th day being the six days of creation, but that connection has since been proven wrong. The more plausible reason for the song is it was a memorization game; each singer adding a ‘gift’ and repeating the previous ones. Those who messed up had to forfeit a kiss or small favor. It’s similar to one many of us played as kids with the alphabet, names, a place, and buying something–My name is Amy and I went to Alabama where I bought apples … (I know some of you are repeating this with the proper cadence). Messing up in our game resulted only in laughter, frustration from the one who forgot, and gentle teasing. But like the Twelve Days of Christmas, it did help us pay attention and memorize.

Whatever the history and truth behind the song, I rather like thinking of the 6^th day being about creation. True winter has begun and much of creation is hibernating, or being still. Darkness quiets the day sooner. And yet … there’s still so much going on. I left chinaberry branches–I pruned off the berries–in piles around the yard and birds have taken shelter in them. The ground cover I planted two years ago is sending up shoots. A friend has started her mini greenhouses of plastic water jugs ready to receive seeds in the next day or two. Orange or pink sunsets through the silhouettes of leafless trees always makes me pause in wonder and awe.

In the Celtic tradition, a 13-day festival began with the Winter Solstice with rituals and prayers to ensure light would return after the deep darkness. On the 6^th day they brought in the wild boar, following the ancient belief that if one ate a particular animal, they’d attain that animal’s qualities. In the case of the boar, it was courage and ferocity. There’s a carol about that as well– The Boar’s Head Carol describing the pageantry of the boar’s head coming into the dining hall and the guests encouraged to be merry and celebrate the rare beast. For them the deep darkness of the Winter Solstice wasn’t the end, it heralded the beginning of when light would return.

I know yesterday was the last Monday of the month and I usually do a book review, but these days of Christmas I’m still doing Christmas-y things. I’ll finally work on cards today–I’m referring to them as Little Christmas or Epiphany cards this year in hopes they get mailed and delivered by then. I still have gifts to deliver (sorry Lynda, Trudy, and Tom). I’m enjoying the lights hanging from the rafters and twinkling on the tree, and the quiet solitude of the lull between the First Day of Christmas and the Twelfth Day.

As I finish writing this, we’ve slipped into the 7^th.

In the Bible, the Creation story says on the 7^th day God rested. It doesn’t say what the Creator did on the 8^th. To me, rest means a brief stop, not a full one. Ask any person who creates, and they’ll tell you one rarely simply stops, there’s always something new percolating. I like to imagine God on the 8^th day looking again at all creation, finding pleasure in it, then saying with much glee and excitement, ‘Ahhh and now what can I make?’ And through us, creating continues.

How are you resting on this 7^th Day? How will you continue creating tomorrow and, in the year ahead?

Tomorrow I’ll go on the traditional First Day Hike at one of the state parks and later enjoy a traditional Midwest meal of pork, sauerkraut, and potatoes (and collards since we’re in the Carolinas). Pork roast is as close as I’ll get to eating wild boar.

May 2025 be a year of blessings, adventure, and discovery, and kindness, compassion, and empathy for all of us. I hope to bring more of that to my window in the coming year. Happy New Year everyone!