Back in the 1940s, we were told to take Christmas decorations down on Twelfth Night. The Twelve Days of Christmas were the time for celebrating. Indeed, one year when my children were very young, and there was a danger that Christmas Day, with all the excitement concentrated into a few hours, would be a disappointment to them after all the build-up, we deliberately spread the celebrations, including the opening of presents, over twelve days. And yes, since you ask, it worked very well. A house-full of contented children enjoying Christmas cheer (non-alcoholic - you don't need alcohol to have cheer) for nearly a fortnight.

But what is happening now?

We've got used to the supermarkets setting aside an aisle for Christmas goodies some time in October. We've got used to carol services happening long before Christmas Day, and CD-makers and mp3 makers jostling for the Christmas Number One place well before the day. Street's lighting went up in November. Some smaller shops get up to a quarter of their annual sales revenue from Christmas shoppers, so we can't grudge them some gaudy lighting to encourage their customers.

The new thing this year was on one of the TV Freeview channels, I can't remember which one, now. They advertised a 12-day celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Fine. Only it began nearly a week before Christmas Day. That seemed all wrong. I suppose you turned on the TV on Christmas Day and there they were telling you it was the Fifth Day of Christmas or something.

Anyway, it wasn't much surprise to see our High Street decorations already down and being put back in their boxes in the municipal attic yesterday morning. The street looks bare, the way our walls will when the Christmas cards are taken down on Twelfth Night.

But don't despair. There's one excellent bit of Christmas festivity still to come. Well, Epiphany festivity, really. It's on Sunday next, January 7th in the Parish Church. It's a Musical called Baboushka, and the singers and actors are adults and children from the Holy Trinity churches. It begins at 6 p.m., by the way, and lasts about 40 minutes, but you should allow an hour because there are mince pies and drinks afterwards. And it's free.

Footnote: Who is Baboushka? One website says:

The children of old Russia awaited with joy the coming of Baboushka at Christmastime as our children today await Santa Claus.

Baboushka's story is retold here with beauty and warmth. When the three kings ask the old woman to join them in their search for the Child, she declines because her day's work is not finished. In vain, she tries to follow them the next day. Since that distant time, Baboushka has continued her endless search for the Child.

Only in our version Baboushka changes her mind just in time. Happy ending!