The Twelve Days of Christmas

Sound a little bit familiar? 

It's a family tradition to sing this song as a big group on Christmas Eve.  Everyone, young and old, joins in.  Each one has perfected their gift and delivers it with a festive zest that will be hard to ever forget.

We usually sing about the nine ladies dancing as we twirl around the room...

Uncle Dwight and Grandpa Stan always sing VERY LOUDLY about the five golden rings

and cousin Lance leaps in the air and with a deep English accent belts out "ten lords a-leaping".

A dear old family friend, George, has taken us over the top when he delivers "seven swans a-swimming" in opera-like fashion with one arm raised over his head, his nose in the air, spinning slowly around while his feet are a-shuffling.

And the whole group chimes in when we finish up strong with "a partridge in a pear tree".

While this is lots of fun to sing, and we love to read the book, we wanted to share with you what we discovered about the deeper meaning of the words we read and sing.

While there are various explanations of  meanings of the twelve days of Christmas, some believe it was used to teach about Christian principles even dating back to the 16th century.  The "true love" (the giver of the gifts) is God himself.

We discovered that it is actually not about the 12 days before Christmas as most people think; rather, it is about the 12 days after Christmas, or a period of time known by the Church as the Epiphany.

Epiphany means "manifestation or appearance." Appropriately naming the event of Jesus' birth.  He appeared on earth as a little baby in the manger in Bethlehem with his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph.  They called his name Emmanuel (God with us); sent from God the Father to make a way for all of us, sinners, to be united with God for eternity.  The Old Testament prophecy was manifested in the flesh in the form of the little baby Jesus.

Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus (Luke 13:34)

Two Turtle Doves = Old and New Testament

Three French Hens = Faith, Hope and Love (I Corinthians 13:13)

Four Calling Birds = Four Gospels
Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Five Golden Rings = First 5 Books of the Old Testament
 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy

Six Geese A-laying = Six days of creation
(Genesis 1)

Seven Swans A-swimming = Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

 1) prophecy 2) ministry 3) teaching

4) exhortation 5) giving 6) leading 7) compassion

(Romans 12:6-8 & I Corinthians 12:8-11)

Eight Maids A-milking = 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)

Nine Ladies Dancing = The Nine fruit of the Holy Spirit

1) love

2) joy

3) peace

4) patience

5) gentleness

6) goodness

7) faith

8) meekness

9) self-control

(Galatians 5:22)

Ten Lords A-Leaping = The Ten Commandments

1) You shall have no other Gods before me

2) Do not make or worship an idol

3) Do not take God's name in vain

4) Remember the Sabbath Day

5) Honor your Mother and Father

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)

Eleven Pipers Piping = The eleven faithful Disciples

1) Simon Peter 2) Andrew his brother 3) James 4) John 5) Philip 6) Bartholomew

7) Matthew 8) Thomas 9) James the son of Alphaeus

10) Simon the Zealot 11) Judas the brother of James 

They did not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot because he betrayed Christ

(Luke 6:14-16)

Twelve Drummers Drumming = The Apostles Creed (according to liturgical doctrine)

1) I believe in God the Father, the 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 the grave.

5) He rose again on the third day and was ascended into heaven
 where he 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 Church

9) the communion of the Saints

10) the forgiveness of sins

11) the resurrection of the body

12) life everlasting

Pictures of the 12 days of gifts were captured in the pages of the book "12 Days of Christmas" A Pop-Up Celebration by Robert Sabuda.

Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th.

...how often would I have gathered thy children together,
as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings.....
Luke 13:34