Twelve (12) Days of Christmas Song
Posted on 12.18.07 12:18AM under Resources
Today I received a forwarded message in my inbox. I do not usually pay attention to forwarded emails but this one stimulated my interest. It is about the history of a well-known Christmas song entitled “12 Days of Christmas”. When I was young, I was bewildered by this song on what do all the creatures and stuff in the song have to do with Christmas. I liked it though because it is sung joyfully in a fast manner.
With the message I received earlier tonight, I learned about its origin. It fascinated me that this song actually have a significant meaning and not just presenting random gifts from a loved one.
Based on the email I got, I discovered that from the middle of 1500s to the early 1800s, Roman Catholics in England were not given the freedom to express their faith openly. Someone during this time wrote this song as a way to catechize young Catholics.
This song is said to have a double meaning: surface and hidden. Its hidden meaning was only limited to their church members. It was stated that each element in the carol lies a code word symbolizing a religious reality that children could remember.
- My true love -God the Father
- A partridge in a pear tree - the partridge is Jesus Christ, pear tree is the cross
- Two turtle doves - old and new testaments
- Three french hens - faith , hope and charity; Holy Trinity
- Four calling birds - gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
- Five golden rings - refers to the Torah or first five books of Moses
- Six geese-a-laying - stood for 6 days of creation
- Seven swans a-swimming - refers to Prophesy, Serving, Teaching,Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy which are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Eight maids a-milking - eight Beatitudes
- Nine ladies dancing - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control which are the nine fruits of the Spirit
- Ten lord a-leaping - speaks about the ten commandments
- Eleven pipers piping - points out to the eleven faithful apostles (excluding Judas)
- Twelve drummers drumming - twelve articles of the Apostles’ Creed
So there goes the history of 12 Days of Christmas. I was quite presumptuous before that this Christmas carol holds no relevance in any way but now, my view for it totally changed. I realized that it absolutely has depth and it is worth singing during the holidays.
Post Comments
* Required. Your email will never be displayed in public.