Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA

  The Twelve Days of Christmas — History, Meaning and Tradition Day 64 of the Christmas Countdown From Christmas Day to Twelfth Night: faith, festivity, folklore, music and the changing calendar Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA | Learning • Knowledge • Growth Introduction For many people Christmas seems to finish when the presents are opened on 25 December. Historically, however, Christmas Day marked the beginning of an extended season. The Twelve Days of Christmas connect worship, hospitality, visiting, music, shared food, seasonal games and the anticipation of Epiphany. They also survive in the remarkably memorable cumulative song in which a mysterious true love offers an ever-growing collection of gifts. Understanding this tradition therefore requires two different stories: the calendar of celebration and the history of the song. They overlap, but they are not identical. This article explores why the twelve days are usually counted from 25 December to 5 January, how Twelfth Night and ...

66 Days to Christmas — Christmas Garlands Decorating Homes Through the Generations | Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA | Learning • Knowledge • Growth | 15 September 2026 Introduction A Christmas garland is a connected length of foliage, ribbon, paper, fabric or ornaments displayed along a mantelpiece, doorway, staircase or table. It differs from a circular wreath and can be draped into a festoon. This seemingly simple object brings together centuries of seasonal decoration, family craft, changing technologies and personal memory. The historical record does not support a single universal origin for all Christmas garlands: the modern custom developed through overlapping influences. 1. Evergreen symbolism Evergreens remain green through winter and have long been associated with continuity, resilience and renewal. Different communities used greenery for different ceremonial and domestic purposes. The presence of ancient greenery decorations does not prove an unbroken line to today’s Christmas garl...