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What Are the Twelve Days of Christmas?

Author: Leon Suprenant | Posted: 20. December 2010 07:47 8

No, they're not a series of movies on the ABC Family channel.

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” refer to the 12 days leading up to the feast of the Epiphany, when the coming of Christ into the world was made known to the nations, symbolized by the Magi (the “We Three Kings”). It reminds us that the Christmas season only begins with Christmas, but extends even beyond Epiphany to the Baptism of the Lord, when Christ begins His public ministry.

Now the actual date of Epiphany in the West changes from year to year, as it falls on the second Sunday after Christmas (the first Sunday after Christmas is usually the feast of the Holy Family), and not automatically on January 6th. Even though the gap between Christmas and Epiphany is no longer exactly twelve days, the Christmas season remains one of the most awesome and beloved times of the liturgical year.

The popular Twelve Days of Christmas carol was written in the 16th century to help children learn key elements of the Catholic faith. Below is a brief explanation of the symbolism of this holiday classic, which has been passed down for over 400 years.

 “True Love”: God Himself

“Me”:   Every baptized person—i.e., the Church!

“Partridge”: Jesus Christ, symbolized as a mother partridge that feigns injury to draw predators away from helpless nestlings

“Pear Tree”: The Cross

“Two Turtle Doves”: Old and New Testaments

“Three French Hens”: Faith, Hope, and Charity; also the Holy Trinity

“Four Calling Birds”: The Four Gospels

“Five Golden Rings”: The Five Books of Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy)

“Six Geese A-Laying”: Six Days of Creation (God rested on the Sabbath)

“Seven Swans A-Swimming”:  Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11); also the Seven Sacraments of the Church

“Eight Maids A-Milking”:  Eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

“Nine Ladies Dancing”:  Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

“Ten Lords A-Leaping”:  Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17)

“Eleven Pipers Piping”:  The Eleven Faithful Apostles (e.g., Matthew 28:16)

“Twelve Drummers Drumming”:  The Twelve Articles of the Apostles’ Creed, which summarize the Catholic Faith handed on by the Apostles and their successors (“I believe in God, the Father almighty . . .”)

For a fun, contemporary version of Twelve Days of Christmas, check out Straight No Chaser. This post originally appeared last Christmas, but I thought I would post it again--'tis the season!

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Categories: General Interest

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Comments

Jeffrey L Miller United States, on 12/20/2010 12:12:44 PM Said:

Jeffrey L Miller

Actually that is an urban myth, or is that a Pope Urban myth?

Regardless this connection just does not pass the smell test.  The Recusants and the Early Anglicans pretty much agreed totally theologically, except for the primacy of the Pope.  All of the things listed in these 12 days are items that Anglicans and Catholics agreed on could be taught openly with no problem.  No reason at all to hide them symbolically in a song.

The other thing is that there is no evidence of this claim earlier than 1990.

There is an in-depth article debunking this at Snopes.com www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp

leon United States, on 12/20/2010 12:36:08 PM Said:

leon

Not sure which is more infallible, your nose or Snopes! With apologies to both, I'm not ready to relegate all this to the "urban legend" scrap heap. While there are many people I respect (including you, Jeff!) who hold a different view, I think there's more to it than that. But even if it originally appeared much later than 16th-century England (I guess that was the problematic part of my post), I share the view of Fr. Stockert www.catholicculture.org/.../view.cfm?id=540 who emphasized that it's an altogether wholesome and uplifting custom to apply religious/catechetical meanings to this song in a family context.  

John Elfering United States, on 12/20/2010 11:39:14 PM Said:

John Elfering

While I like the 12 Days of Christmas for the symbols of the Catholic faith, as a song, I tend to agree with Savage Chickens:  www.savagechickens.com/2010/12/twelve-days.html

leon United States, on 12/21/2010 8:55:46 AM Said:

leon

Yes, but it has more "redeeming value" than "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer"!

Iohn Hewes the Phoenix title loans guy United States, on 1/14/2011 7:30:35 PM Said:

Iohn Hewes the Phoenix title loans guy

I must to begin with give kudos to whoever created your theme and 2nd of for you for writing what i are only able to call a fantastic post.

RB2 United States, on 1/16/2011 2:50:58 AM Said:

RB2

12 Days of Christmas as a Catholic song for schoolchildren and a learning aid doesnt pass the test. Christian symbols are lambs, fish, manna, bread etc, There is not one classic or even seldom used Christian symbol in that song. The only thing the songs has going for it is the numerical range of 1-12 and the items associated with those numbers are rather diverse, none comprises the basics of the faith, and some are downright silly as any kind of compendium of the faith for any level. This song even if true of its origin, doesnt pass as a teaching aid for anything.

Domain United States, on 3/6/2011 1:42:39 AM Said:

Domain

well from one ninja to another, I'd say pwn it up

diet plans to lose belly fat United States, on 10/8/2011 11:09:53 AM Said:

diet plans to lose belly fat

Text over this one is without a doubt crafted by a dumbass.

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