Come in the Christmas Smileys...You're late!

[Gadget]

Christmas day is 1st day of Christmas and 12th night is 5th January - the day before Epiphany (6th).  Twas ever thus in our Anglican household 

[Ayashi]

   Cats do love a Christmas tree, don't they!

I just felt compelled to say that we blamed our elderly cat for several years on the trot for peeing under the Christmas tree. After he died we figured out the tree stand was leaking 

[KGarrad]

Back again,

I suppose it depends on many things but basically the 12 days as we know them are relatively modern. They were brought into the church calendar in the 16th century. Prior to that for most people the period following the alleged birth of christ (nowhere does the bible give that date) it was followed by a series of saints days. These would all have been strict religous days with none of the feasting and such that we know as christmas.

We consider it unlucky to leave decorations up after 12th night but in Germany it is traditional to leave them up until candlemas, 2nd feb.

John915

And (some say) based on the 12 days of feasting that was the Roman Saturnalia?!
http://www.historytoday.com/matt-salusbury/did-romans-invent-christmas

I would also point out that in Europe (particularly Spain and the Netherlands), 12th Night is called Three Kings Night - Driekoningen Dag (I lived in NL for 16 years).