The Twelve Days of
Christmas are probably the most
misunderstood part of the church year among
Christians who are not part of liturgical church
traditions. Contrary to much popular belief,
these are not the twelve days before
Christmas, but in the Western Church are the
twelve days from Christmas until the beginning
of
Epiphany
(January 6th; the 12 days count from December
25th until January 5th).
The origin of the
Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to
differences in calendars, church traditions, and
ways to observe this holy day in various
cultures. In the Western church, Epiphany is
traditionally celebrated as the time the three
Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the
young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). In some cultures,
especially Hispanic and Latin American culture,
January 6th is observed as Three Kings Day, or
simply the Day of the Kings (Span: la Fiesta
de Reyes, el Dia de los Tres Reyes,
or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch:
Driekoningendag). Even though December
25th is celebrated as Christmas in these
cultures, January 6th is often the day for
giving gifts. In some places it is traditional
to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve
Days of Christmas.
By the 16th
century, some European and Scandinavian cultures
had combined the Twelve Days of Christmas with
(sometimes pagan) festivals celebrating the
changing of the year. These were usually
associated with driving away evil spirits for
the start of the new year.
The Twelfth Night is
January 5th, the last last day of the Christmas
Season before Epiphany (January 6th), and often
included feasting along with the removal of
Christmas decorations. French and English
celebrations of Twelfth Night included a King's
Cake, remembering the visit of the Three Magi,
and ale or wine.. In some cultures, the King's
Cake was part of the celebration of the day of
Epiphany.
The popular song
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen
as simply a nonsense song for children. However,
some have suggested that it is a song of
Christian instruction dating to the 16th century
religious wars in England, with hidden
references to the basic teachings of the Faith.
They contend that it was a mnemonic device to
teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true
love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly
suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who
receives the presents refers to every baptized
person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each
of the "days" represents some aspect of the
Christian Faith that was important for children
to learn.
However, many
have questioned the historical accuracy of this
origin of the song The Twelve Days of
Christmas. It seems that some have made an
issue out of trying to debunk this as an "urban
myth," some in the name of historical accuracy
and some out of personal agendas. There is
little "hard" evidence available either way.
Some church historians affirm this account as
basically accurate, while others point out
apparent historical discrepancies. However, the
"evidence" on both sides is mostly in logical
deduction and probabilities. One internet site
devoted to debunking hoaxes and legends says
that, "there is no substantive evidence to
demonstrate that the song 'The Twelve Days of
Christmas' was created or used as a secret means
of preserving tenets of the Catholic faith, or
that this claim is anything but a fanciful
modern day speculation ..." What is omitted is
that there is no "substantive evidence" that
will disprove it either.
It is certainly
possible that this view of the song is legendary
or anecdotal. Without corroboration and in the
absence of "substantive evidence," we probably
should not take rigid positions on either side
and turn the song into a crusade for personal
opinions. That would do more to violate the
spirit of Christmas than the song is worth. So,
for the sake of historical accuracy, we need to
acknowledge this uncertainty.
However, on
another level, this uncertainty should not
prevent us from using the song in celebration of
Christmas. Many of the symbols of Christianity
were not originally religious, including even
the present date of Christmas, but were
appropriated from contemporary culture by the
Christian Faith as vehicles of worship and
proclamation. Perhaps, when all is said and
done, historical accuracy is not really the
point. Perhaps more important is that
Christians can celebrate their rich heritage,
and God's grace, through one more avenue this
Christmas. Now, when they hear what they once
thought was a secular "nonsense song," they
will be reminded in one more way of the grace of
God working in transforming ways in their lives
and in our world. After all, is that not the
meaning of Christmas anyway?
On
the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to
me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge
in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son
of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December
25, the first day of Christmas. In the song,
Christ is symbolically presented as a mother
partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators
from her helpless nestlings, recalling the
expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of
Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often
would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a
hen does her chicks, but you would not have it
so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two
Turtle Doves
The Old and
New Testaments, which together bear witness
to God's self-revelation in history and the
creation of a people to tell the Story of God to
the world.
On the 3rd day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three
French Hens
The Three
Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and
3) Love
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four
Calling Birds
The Four
Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and
4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's
reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus
Christ.
On the 5th day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five
Gold Rings
The first Five
Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah
or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus,
3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy,
which gives the history of humanity's sinful
failure and God's response of grace in the
creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six
Geese A-laying
The six days
of creation that confesses God as Creator
and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven
Swans A-swimming
The seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2)
ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5)
giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans
12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight
Maids A-milking
The eight
Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in
spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4)
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the
peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for
righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day of
Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine
Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruit
of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3)
peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity,
7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9)
self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
On the 10th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten
Lords A-leaping
The ten
commandments: 1) You shall have no other
gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do
not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the
Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6)
Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do
not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do
not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven
Pipers Piping
The eleven
Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2)
Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6)
Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar
Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar
James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not
include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who
betrayed Jesus to the Romans.
On the 12th day
of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve
Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of
doctrine in the
Apostle's Creed: 1)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator
of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus
Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was
buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5)
On the third day he rose again. He ascended into
heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the
Father. 6) He will come again to judge the
living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy
Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the
communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of
sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and
life everlasting.
Copyright ©
Christian Resource Institute
