Here’s a dove, one of the many birds mentioned in the song.
I just love Christmas music of all types. I like the hymns like “The First Noel” and I like the secular tunes like, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” Most everyone has a favorite Christmas song. If I were to ask you yours, I’ll bet one would pop right into your mind. Did it? If I were to ask you your least favorite Christmas song, you might have an equally quick response.
I have never been fond of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” I can never remember all of the parts. I get the numbers and characters, like ladies dancing and pipers piping all mixed up. And I always wondered what in the world that song even means anyway, so I looked it up.
Turns out, it has a Christian foundation to it. Who would have thought? The story goes that in England from 1558-1829, Catholics were forbidden to practice their faith. (If they were caught it could lead to imprisonment or even death.) The song was written to help youngsters learn the basis of their faith without risking getting caught.
A Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus.
2 Turtle Doves are the Old and New Testaments.
3 French Hens are Faith, Hope and Charity.
4 Calling Birds are the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
5 Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testament called the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
6 Geese A-laying are the six days of creation.
7 Swans A-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
8 Maids A-milking are the eight beatitudes. Remember those? Blessed be the: poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for justice, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers and those who suffer for justice sake.
9 Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, perseverance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
10 Lords A-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11 Pipers Piping are the eleven apostles who were faithful. Judas betrayed Jesus.
12 Drummers Drumming are the twelve points of doctrine of the Apostles’ Creed.
Now you know!
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂