What are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
The twelve days of Christmas, or Christmastide, begin at sunset on Christmas Eve and end on the Eve of The Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, on January 5th.
Epiphany (historically the 3rd holiest day in the Church year) is the observance of the Wise Men finding Jesus (Matthew 2). The word "epiphany" is a Greek word meaning "appearing," and refers to the beginning of the revelation of the Good News to the Gentiles. (Which is in fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to be a blessing to the nations.)
What does this have to do with the Christmas Carol ?
Though the observance of the Twelve Days of Christmas is an ancient practice, in the 1600s a Christmas carol became popular to help people remember what the symbolism of each day was. Each day has a theme. And the idea behind the song was to help people remember what those are.
Each day's theme is an important aspect of the faith, and an insight into what Jesus came into this world to do: to give us the gift of faith.
So what are these twelve themes? Let's break down the song and see!
The First Day of Christmas: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The first Day of Christmas is of course Christmas Day. The first thing we are to remember about Jesus' advent (coming to us) is why He came. Jesus came that He might die for His people.
A partridge in a pear tree symbolizes Jesus's mission, with the partridge representing His willingness to sacrifice himself and the pear tree symbolizing the cross.
The Second Day of Christmas: Two Turtle Doves
Two turtle doves represents the two testaments of the Bible. The Old Testament and the New together form a unified message of the Good News.
And, like two doves, they nest together. Turtle doves make lifelong pairs. In the ancient world they represented devoted, inseparable love. Similarly, the message of the Old and New Testaments are a unified, inseparable message of the love of God for fallen humanity, a message that culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The Third Day of Christmas: Three French Hens
Three French hens are the gifts of Faith, Hope, and (selfless) Love that St Paul mentions in I Corinthians 13:13. These are the "cardinal virtues" (the greatest virtues) of the Christian life.
Faith means "trust," the gift of trusting in God's promises and Gospel.
Hope is the confidence that God will do for us what he has promised.
Love is the selfless love of Christ that comes to define His people.
The Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Calling Birds
The four calling birds are the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They record the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The original song lyrics were “four colly birds.” Colly meant black. So, it could be thought of as four blackbirds or ravens. In the cold, snowy days of winter, there is a remarkable silence. And often all that one hears is the occasional cawing of a blackbird. It stands out amidst the silence and death of winter. In the same way, into the cold, dark winter of life, God cries out to us with a message of hope in Christ.
The Fifth Day of Christmas: Five Gold Rings
The rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, or the Pentateuch. These books are the history and law given by God to Moses, which record for us God's purposes in making humanity, the story of our fall into sin, and God's promise to provide a Redeemer.
The reason for the odd pause and repetition in the song is because it is tying together the fulfillment in Jesus of all of the Old Testament promises that began in the five books of Moses.
The Sixth Day of Christmas: Six Geese A-Laying
The six geese represent the six days of Creation. Moses teaches us in Genesis 1 that God "made all things of nothing by the Word of His power, and all very good." Of course, man ruined the original Creation by sinning against God, and through his sin death entered into the world.
In John's Gospel, we read that Jesus is the Word of God who spoke all things into existence. The Son was the Person of the Trinity who created the universe. And This same Jesus who created all things is also the Redeemer of all things. St Paul tells us in Romans 5 that Jesus is the Second Adam, who is faithful for us and creates a new humanity.
The Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Swans A-Swimming
Swans are graceful water creatures. If you were to watch seven swans swimming in a lake, you'd see them gracefully moving across the water beautifully and effortlessly. The seven swans represent the seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer.
St Paul tells us that we ought not be anxious, but to rest in God's provision for us (Philippians 4). And the way to find freedom from worry is through prayer. Jesus taught us to pray, and gave us the Lord's Prayer to be a model for our prayers. As you read the prayer, you will find that there are seven parts to it. (To see an explanation of the Lord's Prayer, look at Questions 98-107 of the Shorter Catechism.)
The Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Maids A-Milking
The eight maids a milking are the eight Beatitudes Jesus describes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). The word "beatitude" means "blessing." Each of them begins "Blessed are..." (Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, etc. )
The Beatitudes are Jesus' summary of what those who accept His call to discipleship look like. They are His description of what citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven look like. (If you'd like to know more, look on our sermons page and see the sermon series on the Beatitudes.)
The Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine Ladies Dancing
Nine ladies dancing represent the graceful (grace-filled) life of those who belong to Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit. The number nine represents the nine-fold gift or fruit of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The fruit of the Spirit is the overturning of the effects of the Fall. When God in Christ makes us new creations, He pours out into us His Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit is in our lives, He begins to transform us such that we bear good fruit.
The Tenth Day of Christmas: Ten Lords A-Leaping
The Ten Lords are the Ten Commandments. A Lord is a ruler, and the Ten Commandments are to be the rule and guide for the life of God's people. Why are they leaping? Because they are avoiding pitfalls! If you're to avoid falling into traps, you will need to leap over them. Following God's direction for our lives will allow us to evade the traps of this life.
The Ten Commandments:
One God: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
No Idols: Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them.
Honor God's Name: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Keep the Sabbath Holy: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt not murder.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness.
Thou shalt not covet.
The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Eleven Pipers Piping
Pipers were musicians who led people in marches during the Middle Ages. These 11 pipers represent the disciples of Jesus (minus Judas) who led the way for Jesus’ teaching around the world.
The eleven faithful disciples took Christ's message into the world. Before He rose to heaven, Jesus gave them the Great Commission of Matthew 28 and Acts 1:8-9.
The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Drummers keep people in line and stepping in unison, all with the same rhythm. The first of the three great creeds of the Church is the Apostles’ Creed. The creeds are the essential, minimum definition of true Christianity. They aren't the entirety of the faith, but all Christians everywhere and at all times should be able to affirm them.
The Apostles' Creed has twelve main points or affirmations.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
The holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
[Note: the word "catholic" is a Greek word that means "universal." Everyone who affirms the creeds shares the universal (catholic) faith. As I like to say, "I'm catholic, but I'm not Roman."]
My True Love: The Giver In the Carol
Who is the true love in the song who gives all of the gifts? It is our God, the Giver of all good things. God our Father has given us the gift of His Son, and through the Son of God has given us His Good News, His Covenant, and the gift of faith!
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