From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol (the 12 Days of Christmas) as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: The surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for religious reality which the children could remember.
The partridge in the pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and the New Testaments. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostle’s Creed.
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How many years have I sung this song and was clueless to what I was actually singing. Thanks, I feel a little smarter today.
Wow!!!!
had no idea
That’s amazing! I love it! What creativity God gave them. I will never sing this song the same again. Thanks!
You know, recently they had a thing on one of the morning shows about how much with would cost to give each one of the things that the song refers to and it came up to some outstanding amount. But the thruth of it is, if you look at the real meaning of this song, each of these things is FREE to us as a gift and for us to give!!!
Free to give, but priceless to receive…