CHRISTMASTIDE is the 12 days from Christmas Day (December 25) to day before the Season of Epiphany starts (January 5).

“The liturgical day actually starts at sundown the night before a feast or fast. The Christmas Eve Eucharist is actually the first worship service of Christmas. The emphasis is usually on the story of the birth of Christ and the church is [decorated with green and red]. Because carols are not sung during Advent, we sing them Christmas Eve.”

While the Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas” has not been proven that it was written to help Christians learn and pass on the tenets of their faith while avoiding persecution. It is nonetheless a fun carol to learn and sing each year around this time.

• EIGHTH DAY of CHRISTMAS . . . The EIGHT MAIDS a-milking refer to the Eight Beatitudes
  • Blessed are the poor in spirit
  • Blessed are the meek
  • Blessed are they who mourn
  • Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness
  • Blessed are the merciful
  • Blessed are the clean of heart
  • Blessed are the peacemakers
  • Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’s sake

January 1: The Holy Name (New Year’s Day)

• The Circumcision and Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (this Holy Day is observed on January 1)

This might rock your world a bit. January 1st is actually not the first day of the Church Year. In our calendar, this is the day that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day according to the custom of the Jews (Luke 2). This was when the child was given a name. The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua” which means “the Lord will save.” The angel that appeared to both Mary and Joseph told them to “call his name Jesus” for he will “save his people from their sins.”

The name of God is an important and holy aspect of the Hebrew faith. God’s name was revealed to Moses as the “I AM” and “Yahweh.”  To this day, Jews do not pronounce or write the name of God, to set it apart. Because of the power of God to save in Jesus Christ, we celebrate his name on this day. Meanwhile, we are enjoying the public holiday of New Year’s Day as well.

• On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me  . . . Seven swans a-swimming (represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety,and Fear of the Lord)
• On the Sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me  . . . Six geese a-laying (represent the six days of creation: Day 1 – Light . . . “Then God said, Let there be light.”; Day 2 – Firmament; Day 3 – Earth, Sea, and Vegetation; Day 4 – Sun, Moon, and Stars; Day 5 – Birds and Sea Animals; Day 6 – Land Animals and Humans)
• On the Fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me  . . . Five golden rings (represent the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)
• On the Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . Four calling birds (refer to the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
• On the Third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . Three french hens (stand for faith, hope, and charity)
• On the Second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . Two turtle doves (refer to the Old and the New Testaments)
• On the First day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . A partridge is a pear tree (refers to Jesus Christ on the Cross)

Source: http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/holiday-songs/twelve-days-of-christmas-the-song-and-the-story.html