SANDPOINT — Just what are the 12 Days of Christmas anyway?

Regardless of what they are (more on that in a moment), I’m just glad there are 12 — especially in this global pandemic when we need every scrap of cheer and holiday magic that we can drum up.

Twelve days means there are 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 Christmashave been around since before the Middle Ages.

Beginning on 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 has to be a good thing. Kick

back and as Christmas nears on the horizon, hunker down to enjoy the holiday not just this week but into the weeks ahead. (And if you want to keep going past the 12 days, I say go for it — and I may just join you.)

Today's donations total $2,163.89 bringing the total amount of donations received to date to $41,413.03 of the $50,000 goal set by the Lions for the annual Christmas campaign.

Generous donations were received from anonymous cash in a toy box, $500; Robert & Kerri Clark, $100; Charles & Wendy Currier, $100; Melinda & Paul Nieman, $300; Mike Phillips, $50; Walt & Pat Bauer (in memory of Edward Bauer), $100; Harold & Cheryl Carter (Steve Carter donation), $100; Elizabeth Faletto, $25; Fred & Karla Darnell (in memory of Fred Jr.), $100;

Joseph & Mae Lapham, $50; Carol & Gary Steinway, $200; Hal & Cheryl Carter, $100; Denise & Michael Wilken, $250; and Dave & Jacque Turner, $25; as well as from coin jars at Samuels 76 and Blue Heron, $44.62; and Arby's, $119.27.

The Toys for Tots program provides free new toys for children living in the Lake Pend Oreille School District, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in-between. A Christmas dinner for the family is also provided. If you know someone, or need help yourself, the Lions are taking applications for the 2020 Toys for Tots program.

Applications are available at the Lions Den, 609 S. Ella St., Sandpoint, on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; online at the Sandpoint Lions Facebook page, facebook.com/SandpointLionsClub; or at Bonner Community Food Bank, 1707 Culvers Drive, Sandpoint. The deadline to submit an application is Monday, Dec. 14.

Masks are required to enter the Lions Den building or those dropping them off may also place them into the red box next to the door.

Toys may be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint; Farmhouse Restaurant, 477227 U.S. 95, Ponderay; Columbia Bank — Sandpoint branch, 414 Church St.; and Ponderay branch, 300 Kootenai Cutoff Road; Walmart, 476999 U.S. 95, Ponderay; and North 40, 477181 U.S. 95, Ponderay.

There are a host of coin jars around the community where spare change can be donated. In addition, monetary donations may be dropped off at both branches of Columbia Bank and the Bonner County Daily Bee during normal business hours. Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a 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

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.