The Twelve Days of Christmas are the festive days beginning Christmas Day (25 December). This period is also known as Christmastide and Twelvetide. The Twelfth Night of Christmas is always on the evening of 5 January.Twelfth Night is followed by the Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January.
I love the peacefulness of the Christmas season. These twelve days are beyond the stress and rush of Advent's preparations, and we can slow down and enjoy the holidays.
Nearly all of Australia closes for the period between Christmas and New Year at least. Many will go to the beach. We like it in the early morning, whilst it is still fresh and cool-ish. We have got back into walking every morning since Boxing Day and we are loving it.
My Christmas decorations are enjoyed now that there is time to ponder their meaning.
Christmas presents can be explored and used for the first time. I have a new Kindle which I am enjoying very much. I have downloaded free books including "On Walden Pond" that 'simple living' classic by Thoreau.
We eat up the leftovers from Christmas.
My DH is able to 'listen' to the cricket whilst sleeping on the couch in the post lunch period.
Our days stretch to a new rhythm -siesta becomes a reality. As Perth Western Australia has a Mediterranean style climate with short wet winters and long hot summers, we really should adopt this as a lifestyle choice. We get active in the early morning, then retreat to a cool place until the sun goes down.
Stone fruit appears in the shops along with grapes and the most popular drinks come out of the fridge -rose, Semillion Sauvingnon Blanc , and gin and tonics! My coffee now needs to be icy cold and I am thinking of getting back in the routine of making iced tea.
This is the time when we try to have friends over for lunch or dinner -eaten outside -sometimes we barbeque.
Relaxation, renewal, recovery.
I do hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy some of the Christmas season in a quiet reflective way.
