The Twelve Days of Christmas

We have all heard or sung this song hundreds of times throughout the holidays but did you ever stop to wonder what it is really all about?  Partirdges in pear trees and maids a milking…very strange indeed unless you know the history behind this lovely carol.  Now you will 🙂

Twelve Days of Christmas Explained

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

 -The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

 -The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

 -Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. 

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

So there is your history for today.  The next time you hear or sing this wonderful old carol see how many of these “lessons” you can remember as you sing along.  And by all means, do sing along!  Sing with love and sing with joy and your life will feel abundant no matter what the circumstances you find yourself in 🙂