TIM ARENSMEIER ARTICLES: 12 Days

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

In the Western Church "Christmas" refers to a twelve day period that starts with Christmas Day and proceeds to January 5, the day before Epiphany (January 6). This is where "The Twelve Days of Christmas" comes from. The world celebrates Christmas for twelve hours, but the Church celebrates it for twelve days because the gift of Christ is with us for twelve months of the year.

When most people hear of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" they think of the song. This song had its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and content of the Christian faith.

From 1558 to 1829, many believers in England were not able to practice their faith openly so they had to find other ways to pass on their beliefs. The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is one example of how they did it. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is, in a sense, an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something of religious significance. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help young believers learn their faith. The song begins, "On the first day of Christmas my True Love gave to me." The "True love" represents God, and the "me" who receives these presents, is the believer in Jesus Christ.

The "Partridge in a Pear Tree" is Jesus 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)

The "Two Turtle Doves" are the Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's revelation of Himself in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.

The "Three French Hens" are the three virtues: faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the Spirit that abide. I Corinthians 13

The "Four Calling Birds" are The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

The "Five Golden Rings" are the first five books of the Bible also called the "Books of Moses." In these, is the story of mankind's fall from grace, and God's gracious redemptive effort through a special people to tell the world of His grace.

The "Six Geese a-Laying" are the six days of creation, in which we learn of God's creation and sustaining grace.

The "Seven Swans a-Swimming" are 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; & I Corinthians 12:8-11

The "Eight Maids a-Milking" are 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 and 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Matthew 6:3-10

The "Nine Ladies Dancing" are 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

The "Ten Lords a-Leaping" are 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 and 10) Do not covet. Exodus 20:1-17

The "Eleven Pipers Piping" are 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 and 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16) The list does not include the twelfth apostle, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders.

The "Twelve Drummers Drumming" are the Twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, 2) and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, 3) who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, 4) suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell. 5) The third day he rose again from the dead; 6) he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. 7) From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 8) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 9) I believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body and 12) the life everlasting. Amen.

So the next time you hear "The Twelve Days of Christmas" consider how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in the Christian faith.

And, on the outside chance that you’re a bit skeptical of the veracity of the above, and want to check it out, I recommend a delightful web site by Fr. Hal, done in the year 2000, in which he gives his documentation. It is on the Catholic Information Network.