Christmas--The Twelve Days of Christmas

[Gregory Matthews]

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

 

 

When most people hear of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," they think of a holiday song by that title.  The holiday song had its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and content of the Christian faith.  From 1558 to 1829 Roman Catholics in England were not able to practice their faith openly, so they found other ways to pass on their beliefs. 

 

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory.  Each of the items in the song represents something of religious significance.  The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help young Christians learn their faith. The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."  "The true love" represents God and the "me" who receives the presents is the Christian.  The "partridge in a pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift from God.  The "two turtle doves" were the Old and New Testaments, another gift from God.  The "Three French hens" were “faith, hope and love” – the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (I Corinthians 13:13).  The "four calling birds" were the four gospels which sing a song of salvation through Jesus Christ.  The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the Bible also called the "Books of Moses."  The "six geese a-laying" were the six days allotted for work, and the "seven swans a swimming" were the "seven days of creation culminating in the Sabbath (Genesis 1 and 2:1-4; Exodus 20:8-11).  The "eight maids a milking" were the eight beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12).  The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).  The "ten lords a-leaping” were the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).  The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples.  The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of the Apostles Creed.

 

NOTE:  I am not the author of this--GM.