Twelve Daysof

Christmas

FEATURE ARTICLE

ChristmastidePAGE 4Francine Pirola

SMARTLOVING

Twelve Ways to Say ‘I Love You’PAGE 16

SEASONAL NOTES

Christmastide & New YearPAGE 27

WANT TO TALK? CATHFAMILY IS ON FACEBOOK

LIKE & SHARE!

Like

STAY UPDATED AND INSPIRED

FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST!

Follow2 | January 2015

This MonthJanuary 2015

Th 1 New Years Day Mary, Mother of God

Fr 2 Sts Basil, Gregory & Gregory Nanzianzen

Sa 3 Feast of Holy Name of Jesus

Su 4 Epiphany of the Lord

Mo 5 St John Neuman

We 7 St Raymond of Penyafort

Su 11 Baptism of the Lord

Tu 13 St Hilary of Poitiers

Sa 17 St Anthony of Egypt

Su 18 Ordinary Time 2

Tu 20 Sts Sebastian & Fabian

We 21 St Agnes

Th 22 St Vincent of Saragossa

Sa 24 St Francis de Sales

Su 25 Ordinary Time 3

Mo 26 Sts Timothy & Titus Australia Day

Tu 27 St Angela Merici

We 28 St Thomas Aquinas

Sa 31 St John Bosco

From the Editor...It’s Christmas! And in Australia, that means long summer holidays. So we have re-published a previous edition to keep the Christmas Spirit going all season long.

It’s been an exciting year, with our shiny new website and our shiny new eMagazine too. Next year we’ve got big plans, so please stay tuned!

We wish you all a blessed Christmas and we look forward to sharing the new year with you!

Kiara PirolaEditor

2015 January | 3

Christmastide

Beginning on Christmas day and ending on the Feast of the Epiphany (6th January) Christmastide is an ancient tradition, marking celebrations for twelve days. In the Middle Ages, it was a time of continuous feasting and revelry. It has been immortalised in Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night, Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol and the traditional Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Christmas is a season not a day. Here are some ideas to make the Christmas spirit last all season long.

Due to the rise of secular traditions and the commercialisation of Christmas, this season has largely been forgotten as more and more emphasis is given to pre-Christmas shopping and post-Christmas sales. CathFamily is proud to join the movement to reclaim Christmas as a truly Christ-centered festival.

4 | January 2015

2015 January | 5

You may have heard or read aobut the Christian symbolism of the popular carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. The story goes that the 16th Century carol was actually an encoded catechesis on the Christian faith recited during the persecutions and religous turmoil in Tudor England.

As clever and plausible as it sounds, this interpretation is not historically accurate, but is a modern re-reading of the symbolism of the various gifts.

The primary evidence of the time indicates that The Twelve Days of Christmas was a catchy ditty describing the various feasting and merry-making that was part of Christmastide. But... the myth does make for a great story, and in the face of the rampant commercialisation of Christmas, the reinterpretation of the carol is part of a broader attempt by Christians to reclaim the true meaning of Christmas... and we are all for that!

6 | January 2015

O n

t h e

F i r s t

D a y

o f

C h r i s t

m a s

2015 January | 7

Sacred Numbers...The Judeo-Christian tradition understands numbers to have a rich and symbolic meaning. The myth of Secret Symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas draws on this tradition and is a clever way of engaging children in understanding the teachings of the Church.

Listen and sing along with Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

8 | January 2015

A patridge in a pear tree... The crucified Christ.

Two turtle doves... Jesus’ human and divine nature.

Three french hens... The Trinity, one God in three persons.

Four calling birds... The four gospels.

Five golden rings... The Torah or the wounds of Christ.

Six geese a-laying... The six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming... The gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Eight maids a-milking... The Beatitudes and the resurrection.

Nine ladies dancing... The nine Choirs of Angels.

Ten lord a-leaping... The 10 Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping... The 11 faithful disciples.

Twelve drummers drumming... The 12 beliefs in the Apostle’s creed.

Twelve Days of Christmas Secret Symbolism

2015 January | 9

To Start: Dec 25th

Christmas Day Have a birthday cake for the birthday boy! We all love birthdays and this is a great way to consolidate Christmas as the celebration of the birthday of Christ.

Number OneDec 26th St StephenAs a deacon in the early Church, St Stephen was stoned to death.

Have a stone skipping competition or collect some stones and decorate them with ‘Stephen’ or a crown (the meaning of his name).

10 | January 2015

Number TwoDec 27th St John the ApostleAs the ‘beloved disciple’ and author of the fourth Gospel, John’s writings express his intimacy and affection for Christ.

Tell someone you love them today.

Number ThreeDec 28th Feast of the Holy InnocentsA day to remember the innocent victims of Herod.

Pray today for all children, preborn and born, who have lost their lives.

2015 January | 11

Number FourDec 29th St Thomas BecketAs the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas called the King of England to account and was martyred 1170.

Invite one of your non-catholic friends to Mass and a meal.

Number FiveDec 30th Holy FamilyA day to honour family. This is a movable feast day which is the first Sunday after Christmas. (We’ve put it here because there are no other feasts on this date.)

Get a family photo taken today, or call a family relative that you have not seen for a while.

12 | January 2015

Number SixDec 31st St Pope Sylvester I As the Pope during the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine, Sylvester is often depicted slaying a dragon.

Play a dragon game or watch a dragon movie together.

Number SevenJan 1st Mary, Mother of GodAs the new year starts, make your resolution something that will build your family life.

Commit to a weekly family night or keep Sunday for worship and family time.

2015 January | 13

Number EightJan 2nd Sts Basil the Great & Gregory NazianzenAs founders of the monastic movement in the Eastern church, Basil and Gregory modelled simplicity of living.

Do that clean up you have been meaing to do. Pass on your unwanted clothes to charity. Throw out the rubbish that clutters your life.

Number NineJan 3rd Holy Name of JesusIn Jewish tradition, babies are given a name and the boys are circumcised on the eighth day after birth.

Today, wear the name of Jesus proudly: write it in chalk on the sidewalk, tattoo with pens his name on your arm, make flags or streamers with the name of ‘Jesus’, paint a t-shirt.

14 | January 2015

Number TenJan 4th St Elizabeth Ann SetonAs a young widow and mother, Elizabeth converted to the Catholic faith and started a school to educate her own children as well as the poor of Baltimore.

Do something educational with the family today – visit a museum, watch a documentary, get a book from the library.

Number ElevenJan 5th St John NeumannWhile serving as the Archbishop of Philadelphia, John established an extensive Catholic school system, was an advocate for peace and was able to hear confessions in six languages.

Learn to say “The Peace of Christ be with you” in another language today (try Google translator).

2015 January | 15

Number TwelveJan 6th EpiphanyMarking the visit by the Magi (three learned men from the East), epiphany means “appearance, manifestation”.

Make a gift to God today: Gold – something from your material wealth. Frankincense – a talent or special gift that you could use for God’s glory. Myrrh – a gift of time to give in service to another.

16 | January 2015

To Finish: King Cake!A traditional European festive food for the Epiphany is a King Cake. There are dozens of variations, but essential to all of them is the little figurine of the baby Jesus baked inside. The person who bites into the figurine is crowned King for the day and has to provide the cake for next year. Check out Catholic Cuisine recipes.

2015 January | 17

Twelve Ways to say‘I Love You’

By Francine & Byron Priola

In the spirit of the Christmastide, here are twelve ways to communicate your devotion to your honey.

18 | January 2015

2015 January | 19

1. Use a dry erase marker to leave a message on your bathroom mirror.

2. Write a love note, roll it up and insert it into a balloon. Decorate the balloon with markers.

3. Using a deck of cards (in order), write a 52 word message, one word to a card. Shuffle before presenting to your honey.

4. Send a photo text message every day for a week with “I appreciate how you…”

5. Write out the words of a love poem on a nice card, spray with your perfume or after shave and post it – old fashioned style!

6. Leave mini notes in surprise places, like the tea pot, a coat pocket, the car dash, a coffee cup.

20 | January 2015

2015 January | 21

22 | January 2015

2015 January | 23

7. Serenade your beloved with a romantic love song (lip synch if your singing is wobbly).

8. Print a photograph of the two of you, write a love message on it, then cut it up like a jigsaw puzzle and send it to your honey.

9. Set your phone alarm to remind you to say a daily prayer of thanks – then send a “I’m thinking about you” text message.

10. Write your devotion in the sand on the beach or in chalk on the pavement.

11. Make a phone video of you holding up a series of pages with a love message.

12. ‘Tattoo’ with a pen “I heart U” in a place only your beloved can find.

www.SmartLoving.org

Byron Pirola is husband to Francine and father of five. Byron is a Management Consultant by day and by night, the co-director the Marriage Resource Centre with Francine and coauthors of the SmartLoving series.

Francine Pirola is the founder of CathFamily and regular contributor and editor. She has been married to Byron for over 25 years and has five children. She is also the author of the My School Diary Series that is used by 100,000 catholic school students around Australia.

www.LivingWellMedia.com.au

About the Authors

24 | January 2015

Seminars | Resources | ArticlesFind out more about Catholic marriage and how you can enjoy

deeper intimacy and spiritual connection.

26 | January 2015

SEASONAL NOTES

2015 January | 27

FAMILY RITUALS FireIt’s always a good time for your family to discover the joys of fire, whether it’s curled up with a blanket in candelight and CathFamily’s Chili Hot Chocolates or relaxing outside around a fire pit. Check out our tips for bringing the fire of the Spirit to your family gatherings.

CRAFT Biblical ScrollLong before books were invented, people used scrolls to record important information. Create your own biblical scroll of your favourite bible stories and decorating by hand. Comes with free prinable instructions and template.

All this and more can be found at www.CathFamily.org

BE INSPIREDThe Intentional FamilyIt might seem counter-intuitive for those of us used to thinking of holidays as ‘doing nothing’, but planning our holiday leisure time is probably one of the best things we can do to provide spaces for spontaneous fun...

It’s Christmas and holidays are on! We’ve got a few things to give you ideas to make your holidays fun and full of memories that doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

28 | January 2015

BE INSPIREDGratefulOne of the simplest and most effective things parents can do to promote wellbeing is to foster a habit of gratitude in their children. Gratitude highlights the positive and mobilizes our resources to make the best of any situation.

FAMILY RITUALSTable TalkIn our culture of busyness, family meals are often a casualty. And with loss of these traditions, we also lose connection and important relationship time.

For more ideas and inspiration visit www.CathFamily.org

CRAFT Days of GratitudeEncouraging your kids to cultivate gratitude is setting them up for a healthy, resilient adulthood. Why not get your family on board with this Gratitude Calendar?

New year is the time for making New Year’s Resolutions and also breaking them much too early! Have you thought about making a new year’s resolution as a family? It’s a great opportunity to start a fresh family tradition and with Lent around the corner you’ll get the extra boost to set the habit!

2015 January | 29