The 12 days of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas

There has been much speculation and controversy over the origins and tradition of the Christmas carol, "The 12 Days of Christmas." It is said that each gift represents an aspect of the Catholic faith and that the song was used to teach children during a time when Catholicism was banned. Many versions of the story abound, one being written by a Friar who states that he was doing research in some old Latin texts when he came up references to the song in "letters from Irish priests, mostly Jesuits, writing back to the motherhouse at Douai-Rheims, in France." Other sources say this can not possibly be true as the first written version of the song appeared in 1780 France in a children's book - Mirth Without Mischief. They do state however that the song may very well be much older. I shall leave this for scholars to debate. The song is currently used in many Irish households as an inspiring song of faith.

The symbols mean the following:

1 A Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings
2 Turtle Doves = Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
4 Calling Birds = Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = first Five Books of the Old Testament
6 Geese A-laying = Six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
8 Maids A-milking = Eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = Ten Commandments
11 Pipers Piping = Eleven faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = Twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's