The TWENTY-PLUS Days of Christmas???

As many are aware, it's still Christmas. The Christmas season only begins on Christmas.

But when does it end?

If you go by the famous phrase "the twelve days of Christmas"—immortalized in the well-known song (which really *is not* a crypto-catechism after all; sorry.)—then you might guess they end on January 5, the eve of Epiphany, counting Christmas Day as the first day. Or if, according to some versions, you count the day *after* Christmas Day as the first day then the twelfth turns out to be January 6, the traditional day of Epiphany.

Ahhh. . . . Things were so uncomplicated in former centuries. Twelve days. Two options. Easy!

But as the Church's liturgical cycle get modified over the years, things become a little more complicated.

You know, like how Lent *originally* started out as a 40 days celebration, but if you look up its technical definition in the Church's official documents today, it turns out that the number "40" is only approximate, and it's really more than 40 days? (Extra penance, folks!)

Well, it turns out the same thing is true of the Christmas season. Here is the current, official definition of its length, taken from the brand, spanking new translation of the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar:

KEEP READING.