Most people are familiar with the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" and the partridge and the rings and the calling birds and all that, but lost by many modern Christians today is the observance of those 12 days--called Christmastide--between Christmas and Epiphany (Jan. 6). After an Advent period full of anticipation and longing, Christmastide was designed as a celebration and reflection of what it means that Jesus came--on a global and personal level. 

While many people have already moved on from Christmas songs, I thought in the spirit of reflecting and processing the miracle of the Incarnation it would be helpful to have a few songs for Christmastide. Check out these songs and enjoy the last remnants of the season. 

1. "You're Here" - Francesca Battistelli
Possibly the best known song of this bunch, this hit from Franny's 2012 project, Christmas, is a song from Mary's perspective as she looks at the newborn baby: "You're here / I'm holding you so near / I'm staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator / You could have left us on our own / But you're here."
 
2. "Flesh and Bone" - We Are Messengers
From We Are Messengers' non-Christmassy 2016 Christmas project, God With Us, this song summarizes the rescue mission that began with the birth of Jesus: "You abandoned heaven's throne when you took our flesh and bone / You have claimed our wandering souls when you made this world your home / And You made my heart your own."
 
3. "God With Us" - All Sons & Daughters
Also not a holiday song, this tune from All Sons & Daughters' self-titled album proclaims the greatness of the incarnation, in present tense: "You've come / To be hope / To this world / For Your honor and name."
 
4. "Love Is Here" - Laura Story
"There is a new song filling up the dark / There is a new hope filling every heart / There is a new song rising over the world / Oh love is here." This upbeat, uptempo song of triumph is the perfect response to Christmas from Laura's 2015 holiday project, God With Us.
 
5. "Christmastide" - The Brilliance
The season between Christmas Day and Epiphany--the Twelve Days of Christmas--is known as Christmastide, and folk worship group The Brilliance wrote a song bearing the season's name. It's a peaceful exhale of response of gratefulness for the beginning of Jesus' time on earth.
 
6. "Praises (Be Lifted Up)" - Bethel Music
This song from Bethel's Have It All album is already sung in churches every Sunday morning (my church included), and yet I can't help but think of something the shepherds, angels and wise men would sing upon seeing Jesus in the manger: "All honor to Your name / The name that's so much greater than all names."
 
7. "An Irish Christmas Blessing" - Keith & Kristyn Getty
This is a beautiful blessing sung over us all, as a beautiful call to peace and rest and action out of the profundity of Jesus' birth! "So may His joy rush over you / Delight in the path He has called you to / May all your steps walk in Heaven's endless light / Beyond this Christmas night (Make your sole purpose Christ)."
 
8. "Newborn King" - Paul Baloche
Another song of triumph that comes out of the moments of gazing upon the fulfillment of God's promise, this is perfect for Christmastide: "Let the nations hear the news / See what God has done / Heaven's gift of peace on earth / His own beloved Son."
 
9. "Lord Remind Me" - Jon & Valerie Guerra
The amazing songwriting skills of Jon Guerra are on display here with this song on his first project with wife, Valerie, from 2015. It talks about how, in the midst of the world's troubles, he needs God to remind him of how Jesus' birth changes everything and brings hope. A great line that haunts me from this song is: "Glory in the highest / Glory in the lowest / Emmanuel."
 
10. "Glory (Let There Be Peace)" - Matt Maher
The emotion-tugging vocals of Matt Maher combined with the piano-driven worship/pop for which he's known finds a home at Christmas too, with another great song about the internal reflection that comes with receiving Jesus anew: "We're singing glory, glory / Let there be peace / Let it start in me."
 
11. "Glorious" - for KING & COUNTRY
This song was huge during the Christmas season, as it's for KING & COUNTRY's newest song, and is full of delicious ear candy. But the lyrics really point to Christmastide--and actually, the Epiphany--as they declare the divinity and power of the newborn King. 
 
12. "On This Day Earth Shall Ring" - Found Wandering
When bands do modern renditions of hymns and carols during this time of the year, they're more often than not Advent carols--songs of longing and waiting and believing in the promise. It's great to see this rather unknown group doing a great job with this old hymn written for the Christmastide season, singing: "On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King, born on earth to save us; him the Father gave us." It's delivered in indie glory, great for fans of Gungor or Sufjan Stevens.