12 days of Christmas; 12 chances to help 'Tots'

While Christmas Day is officially over, the 12 days of Christmas are still in full swing.

But what are the 12 Days of Christmas, you ask. Beyond a chance to celebrate focus even more attention on all that is good and wonderful in the world, a chance to celebrate the reason behind the season and to, maybe, extend that joy and magic just a little bit longer in a world where it’s all too easy to focus on the negative.

Regardless of what they are (more on that in a moment), I’m just glad there are 12 — more days to celebrate the goodness of the world, more days to remember what’s really important in life, more days, well, to celebrate Christmas.

According to whychristmas.com, the 12 Days of Christmas have been around since before the Middle Ages. Beginning on Dec. 25 ­— Christmas Day — the website notes that the 12 days continue until Jan. 5, also known as the Twelfth Night.

A time of celebration, the 12 days each mark a feast day for a saint and/or have different celebrations.

The days are, the website, explains:

Day 1 (Dec. 25) — Christmas Day celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Day 2 (Dec. 26) — St. Stephen’s Day celebrates the first Christian martyr.

Day 3 (Dec. 27) — The day pays tribute to St John the Apostle.

Day 4 (Dec. 28) — The Feast of the Holy Innocents is a day when people remember the baby boys killed when King Herod was trying to find and kill the infant Jesus.

Day 5 (Dec. 29) — St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century, who was killed in 1170 for challenging the king’s authority over the church.

Day 6 (Dec. 30) — The day pays tribute to St. Egwin of Worcester.

Day 7 (Dec. 31) — The day honors Pope Sylvester I, one of the earliest popes (in the 4th century).

Day 8 (Jan. 1) — The day honors Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Day 9 (Jan. 2) — The day honors St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, two important 4th century Christians.

Day 10 (Jan. 3) — Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus recalls when Jesus was officially “named” in the Jewish temple.

Day 11 (Jan. 4) — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Day 12 (Jan. 5, also known as Epiphany Eve) — The day pays tribute to St. John Neumann, who was the first Bishop in America.

Whether you are a person of faith or not, having more days to practice the spirit of Christmas is very much a good thing.

Today’s donations add up to $120, bringing the total to $61,233.52

Generous contributions were received from: Delbertt A. Bader $120.

If you haven't donated and would like to do so, please do. Every penny, every dollar adds up and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. To help the Lions reach their goal — as additional donations help the Lions buy ahead and make the most of the community's generous donations.

Funds raised during the annual campaign go to purchase new toys for area children — or gift cards for older youth — who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Every Christmas, the Lions help almost 1,000 area children, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between.

The Lions make the most of the money by bargain shopping and with the assistance of generous local businesses. 

Donations for Toys for Tots can be dropped off at the front desk at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those interested can also drop off donations at area banks and Mr. Sub, 602 N. Fifth Ave. in Sandpoint.

Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any one of multiple coin jars located around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, if you wish to make an anonymous donation, please mention that in your note.

If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118, or online at bit.ly/SandpointLions.