Childermas: The Fourth day of Christmas 

Everyone knows the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” but few actually know the Catholic traditions that inspired this song. While I won’t be covering all twelve days of Christmas in this article, I will be sharing my findings regarding the strange, fourth day of Christmas: Childermas. 

History: 

Also known as the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Childermas was celebrated on December the twenty-eighth as a way to remember the massacre of the children, ordered by King Herod, in Matthew 2. As with each of the other days of Christmas, Childermas was celebrated with feasting. However, as this is a day on which children are remembered, the festivities largely revolved around the young, as well. 

 On the morning of Childermas, some children would wake up to a beating of sorts from their parents as a reminder of the suffering that the day remembered. However, after that it was all fun and games. It was tradition to let the youngest child become head of the household for the day, sitting at the head of the table for the feast and making all the decisions. 

Another way in which this day was celebrated was with the tradition of the boy bishop. Originally implemented with the goal of encouraging young boys to join the priesthood, this tradition saw one dress up as bishop and assume the responsibilities of that position for the day, even having the privilege of being buried like a bishop should he die (as unfortunately happened one year). However, the boys were not always honest in their role (similar to those they were imitating), and some abused their temporary authority for their own gain and amusement. Despite this, the tradition continued to spread all over England, until it was outlawed by King Henry VIII in 1541 on the grounds of it being superstitious and pagan. 

That is not the end of the boy bishop though, as in 1982 the tradition was brought back, although not to the same extent. While he doesn’t get all the same powers he once did, the boy bishop does preside over some services and gives one sermon.  

Even though not all the traditions of Childermas have survived the test of time, the memory of that day of feasting and the events that it remembered has. While we may not continue to celebrate this fourth day of Christmas, we would do well to remember the evil deeds that led to its creation. Shortly after Jesus was born, before he even began to preach, people wanted him dead. This is a good reminder that while we do enjoy much religious freedom at the moment, Jesus is not welcomed by all, and there are many that would like to see the memory of Him erased from this world. Therefore, as you celebrate Christmas this year, remember the price that has been paid for our faith by Christ, by those who have followed him, and by those who fell victim to a mad king’s attempts to keep His name from ever being known, and give thanks to God that He has preserved the message of the Good News of salvation for all men to this very day. 

Sources:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/kids-tudors/twelve-days-of-christmas

https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2022/12/the-feast-of-childermas.html

https://princeofpeacetaylors.org/28-december-feast-of-the-holy-innocents-childermas/