What's the difference between the Octave of Christmas and the 12 Days of Christmas?

We sometimes hear of both an octave of Christmas as well as the 12 days of Christmas. Here's a good explanation I found which distinguishes the two!

The octave of Christmas refers to the eight days from December 25th, the day of Christmas, to January 1st, the feast of Mary, Mother of God. The 12 days of Christmas, on the other hand, are the twelve days from December 25th to January 6th, which includes the octave of Christmas as well as the three days before it.

In the Catholic Church, the octave of Christmas is a time of great celebration and rejoicing, as it marks the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. During this time, there are often special Masses and other liturgical celebrations held in honor of the birth of Jesus.

The 12 days of Christmas, on the other hand, are a time of celebration and reflection on the meaning of the birth of Jesus, as well as a time to prepare for the coming of the Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation of Jesus as the savior of the world. The 12 days of Christmas are traditionally a time of feasting, gift-giving, and merriment, and are often celebrated with special holiday traditions such as caroling and the singing of Christmas carols.

Overall, the octave of Christmas and the 12 days of Christmas are both important times of celebration and reflection in the Catholic Church, and both are marked by special liturgical and cultural traditions.