For years, Christmas in my home felt like a blur—shopping, wrapping, baking, and decorating, all packed into December 25. By the next day, the joy was gone.
Everything changed when I discovered the truth: Christmas doesn’t end on December 25—it begins. The Church has always celebrated twelve holy days, from the Nativity through Epiphany. That shift turned my holidays from frenzy into fruitfulness.
The Traditional Lyrics
Here are the words of the well-loved English carol:
The Twelve Days of Christmas (Traditional)
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
Three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
(Continue through all twelve verses, building up each gift until the twelfth day with “twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping,” etc.)
A New Song with an Old Tune
Out of my transformation came a new carol:
Our Father Gave To Us The 12 Days of Christmas
Written by Rebecca Even
- On the first day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, A Savior in the Manger
- On the second day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Two Testaments
- On the third day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Three in One
- On the fourth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Four Gospel Preachers
- On the fifth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Five Holy Books
- On the sixth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Six Creation Days
- On the seventh day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Seven Sacred Gifts
- On the eighth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Eight Blessed Beatitudes
- On the ninth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Nine Choir of Angels
- On the tenth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Ten Good Commandments
- On the eleventh day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Eleven Faithful Apostles
- On the twelfth day of Christmas Our Father Gave To Us, Twelve Teachers’ Teachings
This song has become part of my family’s Christmas tradition, sung with joy and gratitude through the season. It’s also been shared in book form, as an ornament kit, and through music projects—helping families everywhere rediscover the richness of the 12 Days.
✨ Join the Live the 12 Days Challenge and support Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem.
Visit 🌐 www.HowToKeepChristInChristmas.com to join.
Frequently Asked Questions
You keep Christ in the center of Christmas by following the Church’s rhythm—preparing in Advent, celebrating the full 12 days of Christmas through prayer and tradition, and letting gratitude and service guide your family. This way, the season becomes not about stress or consumerism, but about welcoming Christ into your home and heart.
The most important thing on Christmas Day is and always will be Jesus Himself, the gift of God’s love made flesh. By living the full 12 days with prayer, gratitude, and service, we move from presents to Presence, keep Christ at the center, and share His joy with the world.
Christmas is not about rushing or consumerism, but about entering the Church’s rhythm—preparing in Advent, celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, and rejoicing at Epiphany. By embracing prayer, gratitude, and service, and making our homes places of faith, we keep Christ at the center and reclaim the season’s true joy.
Hi, I am Rebecca Even
CEO Of A.M.D.G. Productions LLC
Catholic author, Speaker, Songwriter but not a singer, Rebecca Even is a wife and mother with a passion for working with women especially mothers of all ages.
Get Our Best Selling Product!
You just read about this...
Super excited about this product? We are, too! We just wrote this whole blog post that mentions it.
Ready to buy it? Get access to the Product here:
