The Twelve days of Christmas starts on the Christmas day or the Jesus’ birthday, 25th day of December, to the Epiphany day, the day that the Christians have celebrated the three Wise Men arrival and the same day that the Christ was revealed as the light of the world which was on January 6.
We all love to sing the Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and yet we don’t know what it means and why are there many characters included. Did you know that the use of many characters have a serious purpose? And that it was originated from the religious symbolism?
It was started during the time when there was a religious discrimination. It was written as a secret catechism so people could sing it publicly without having fear that they will be arrested.
The song has been interpreted into two dimensions – the surface and the hidden meanings. The meanings of each symbol are introduced only to the Christians involved.
1. The partridge in a pear tree – Jesus.
2. Two turtledoves – the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens – are the faith, hope and love.
4. Four calling birds – four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings – the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying are the six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming stands for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The eight maids’ a-milking represents the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing – nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten Lords’ a-leaping – the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping – the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming – the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.