Monday, January 6, 2014

Little Christmas

To me, January 6th has always been "Little Christmas."
I don't know where I first heard the name,
maybe it filtered down through the generations
 from my Irish great great grandmother
since the name is traditional in Ireland as nollaig bheag.
Or maybe it's because my Dad often referred to it that way.


Regardless of where I heard it, I love the name.
After all the fuss and bustle and frenzy of Christmas in December,
January 6th is a happy little secret, unsullied by the avarice of commercialism.
Maybe that's why it seems more calm and peaceful to me.


Eastern churches traditionally regard January 6th as Christmas,
western churches December 25th.
 I love the idea of celebrating both.
Whether you consider January 6th Christmas or the Feast of the Epiphany,
Little Christmas makes January special.
So have yourself a "Merry Little Christmas."
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