The Twelve Days of Christmas: Day One: Christmas Day

 The first day celebrates the birth of Christ, in Bethlehem.

 

The great events leading up to the death of King Edward, the consecration of his church at Westminster, the subsequent coronation of King Harold at Epiphany and the coronation of King William a year later, all take place over the twelve days of Christmas. Exactly what the practices of the church over this period were in 1065/1066 is unclear. We can however, look at the twelve days and their significance as they are understood now.  We will follow the calendar for one year beginning with Edward’s death and ending with William’s coronation.

According to The Life of Edward, the king called for the consecration of his new church to take place at Christmas. 

“Meanwhile all the things necessary for the dedication of such a great building were prepared at the royal charge, as was right, and from the whole of Britain men assembled there, assembled, I say, as at Christmas for a royal court or for consecrating a famous church to Christ.”

But on Christmas Eve, Edward’s illness worsened and he was eventually forced to withdraw and leave the consecration of his church to his wife, Queen Edith.

“For on Christmas eve itself the most kindly king began to get worse. Concealing the fact, however, he spent Christmas day both in the church and in the palace rejoicing with his nobles.”
[On Christmas day] “The glorious King Edward was afflicted with an indisposition, and in the palace the day’s rejoicing was afflicted with fresh calamity. The holy man disguised his sickness more than his strength warranted, and for three days [24th-26th] he was able to produce a serene coutenance. He sat at table clad in a festal robe, but had no stomach for the delicacies which were served. He showed a cheerful face to the bystanders, althugh an unbearable weakness oppressed him.”