As Catholics, Christmas isn't over yet. But what is the difference between Christmas season (end/beginning), the 8 days of Christmas, and the 12 days of Christmas? I know they all mean something...but what's the difference?

- Jill

Jill thanks for the question - its after Christmas as I answer this, sorry.  Christmas as we all know is the celebration of the birth of Christ.  Christmas gets celebrated for 8 days, from Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, and is called the Octave of Christmas.  Each of those 8 days are celebrated just like Christmas day (we do the same thing at Easter, celebrate Easter for 8 days).  The Christmas season ends with the Baptism of the Lord (this year that was Sun. Jan. 13).  The 12 days of Christmas was a song that was written in England when it was a crime to be Catholic, so all the things in the 12 days are hidden references to aspects of our faith.  So it is like a catechism in hiding so that people could still express their faith without going to jail.  When you read what each stands for it is really cool.  Do a google search!  Thanks for the question - hope NY is going well. 

 Pax Christi..  FJ

I noticed you sign everything with Pax Christi. What does that mean? -Megan

Finally someone noticed - let's give Megan a million dollars!  Now to the answer, Pax Christi is a pretty simple Latin expression.  Pax means peace, Christi is the Latin declension of Christus with means Christ.  So in essence it means the peace of Christ.  I put it at the end which means the peace of Christ be with you.  Thanks again, maybe now I'll try some better expressions!


Pax Christi..