Question
Recently I was told that the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas" is really about teaching the faith. What are the parts of faith that it teaches? Why are there "12" days?
--Wondering in Wichita
Answer
The "12 Days" are counted from December 26 until January 6, when in the western liturgical calendar we celebrate the days after the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) until the Epiphany of the Lord.
The song had its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and content of the Christian faith. From1558 to 1829 Roman Catholics in England were not able to practice their faith openly so they had to find other ways to pass on their beliefs. The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is one example of how they did it. "The 12 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 these presents is the Christian.
- 1) The "partridge in a pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift from God.
- 2) The "two turtle doves" were the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament - anothergift from God.
- 3) The "three French hens" were faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (I Corinthians 13).
- 4) The "four calling birds" were the four Gospels which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
- 5) The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the Bible also called the "Books of Moses" or the Pentetuch.
- 6) The "six geese a-laying" were the six days of creation.
- 7) The "seven swans a swimming" were "seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8-11, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11).
- 8) The "eight maids a milking" were the eight beatitudes (see Matthew 6).
- 9) The "nine ladies dancing" were nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
- 10) The "ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments.
- 11) The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples.
- 12) The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed.