We are ‘starting’ a tradition in our immediate family - which is really returning / reviving the old church liturgical tradition of celebrating the full 12 days of Christmas. Opening presents and doing special things for the full 12 days of Christmas.

The 12 days of Christmas were traditionally feast days that led up to the feast of Epiphany, which celebrates the Magi, on January 6th.

I highly encourage folks to re-connect with the liturgical traditions through the Sophia Institute Press calendar. We recently discovered them. They are beyond beautiful , and will become a focal point for your family to return to tradition. The images are a glimpse of the richness of these calendars. My children look at it daily, and the layers of symbolism layered throughout the calendar becomes an ‘eye-spy’ of sorts. In short, they love looking and learning about tradition using these calendars.

https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-illustrated-liturgical-year-calendar-subnoscription

Return to tradition!

Tobias and the Angel with the Fish
By Karel Dujardin c. 1664-65

“For it is good to hide the secret of a king: to reveal and confess the works of God.
Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold.
For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.

+ St. Raphael the Archangel

Tobit 12:7-10

“Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.”
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Benozzo Gozzoli, “Triumph of St. Thomas Aquinas” (detail), 1471