The Twelve Days Of Christmas

The Twelve Days Of Christmas There is an story making the rounds about the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas." It states that the song was created to help persecuted Catholics remember important articles of the Christian faith. This information appears in at least two books: A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals by Ann Ball and The Real 12 Days of Christmas by Helen Haidle. According to this view the twelve days are actually coded references to twelve Christian doctrines. Here are the meaning of the days as given in various accounts: "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me" -- The first day of the Christmas celebration is counted from December 26, the day after Christmas, to January 6, the traditional day for celebrating the coming of the wise men to worship Jesus.

Instead of referring to a suitor, the "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God. God is the one who gives all of these wonderful gifts to "me." The "me" receiving the presents is symbolic of every baptized person. The partridge was chosen as a reminder of Christ. A mother partridge will feign injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings.

She will literally give her life for her children. The pear tree is a reminder of the cross. Two turtle doves: The Old and New Testaments. Two great gifts which each Christian receives. Three french hens: During the 16th century, only the rich could afford these costly birds.

These represent the three great gifts of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Four calling birds: The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, which speak of Jesus. Five gold rings: The first five books of the Old Testament or the Torah. These books were treated by the Jews with great reverence and considered worth more than gold (Psalm 19:10). Six geese a laying: Eggs are an almost universal symbol of new life.

The laying geese stand for the six days of creation. God spoke the word and brought forth life. Seven swans a-swimming: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6-8): prophesy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy. Eight maids a-milking: The eight Beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:3-10) nourish us as milk does. Nine ladies dancing: The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Ten lords a-leaping: Lords were men who had authority in people's lives. The lords are The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). Eleven pipers piping: The eleven apostles that remained faithful to Jesus and people joyfully followed their message. Twelve drummers drumming: The twelve vital beliefs that set us apart as Christians found in the Apostles' Creed: I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. The third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. He shall return to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy catholic church, the communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And life everlasting.

It would be nice if this meaning of "The Twelve Days" was actually true. It would be a wonderful way to teach basic doctrines. However, the truth of the origin of "The Twelve Days" has been questioned and may be an example (like the candy cane) of a Christian urban legend. For more information on why this might ben an urban legend see The Twelve Days of Christmas at Snopes.com.

Others have defended the idea that "The Twelve Days" is a Catholic persecution song. See A Rebuttal to Snopes.com. People from both sides of the debate point out that some misinterpretations have crept into our understanding of the English version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" over the years. The fourth day's gift is actually four "colly birds," not four "calling birds.

" (The word "colly" literally means "black as coal," and thus "colly birds" would be blackbirds.) The "five golden rings" refers not to five pieces of jewelry, but to five ring-necked birds (such as pheasants). When these errors are corrected, the pattern of the first seven gifts' all being types of birds is re-established. There is also a song called "A New Dial" (also known as "In Those Twelve Days"), which dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the twelve days of Christmas. You will note some similarities between it and the meanings assigned to "The Twelve Days of Christmas.

" The style of "A New Dial" is similar to a memory-and-forfeit game in which the leader recited a verse, then each of the players repeated the verse, then the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake. The player who erred paid a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. The song "A New Dial" was recited in a question-and-answer format:   What are they that are but one? We have one God alone In heaven above sits on His throne. What are they which are by two? Two testaments, the old and new, We do acknowledge to be true. What are they which are but three? Three persons in the Trinity Which make one God in unity.

What are they which are but four Four sweet Evangelists there are, Christ's birth, life, death which do declare. What are they which are but five? Five senses, like five kings, maintain In every man a several reign. What are they which are but six? Six days to labor is not wrong, For God himself did work so long. What are they which are but seven? Seven liberal arts hath God sent down With divine skill man's soul to crown. What are they which are but eight? Eight Beatitudes are there given Use them right and go to heaven.

What are they which are but nine? Nine Muses, like the heaven's nine spheres, With sacred tunes entice our ears. What are they which are but ten? Ten statutes God to Moses gave Which, kept or broke, do spill or save. What are they which are but eleven? Eleven thousand virgins did partake And suffered death for Jesus' sake. What are they which are but twelve? Twelve are attending on God's son; Twelve make our creed. The Dial's done.