12 Days of Christmas

by Rev. Victoria Ubben

The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was published in England in 1780 without music (as a fun rhyme or chant) but is probably French in origin. While there are many versions of this song and many stories as to what (if any) meaning there might be to the gifts, the following is the story that my mother taught me. Many scholars of music history today are uncertain of any possible religious meaning to this song. Thus, I cannot back this up with proof from the internet or other sources. This is the story that I was taught and that I have found to be helpful to me. May this be helpful to you and your family as you journey through the Twelve Days of Christmas! 

My late mother taught this easy-to-remember and fun-to-sing carol to my brother and me AND she taught us the symbolic meaning behind each “gift” given from one’s “true love.” She always told us that this carol was written as a catechism song for young Catholics. Each element in the carol is a “code” for a religious reality which children can remember.  Now as adults, we still remember the symbolism that our mother taught us even to this day.  

This is what my brother and I were taught: 

  • The true love one hears in the song is not a smitten boyfriend or girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas Day.
  • The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators. The tree represents the wooden cross on which Jesus died.
  • Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.
  • Three French hens are faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13). Other traditions indicate that the three French hens represent the three kings who brought gifts (Matthew 2).
  • Four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
  • Five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, called the Pentateuch. (“Penta” means “Five.”)
  • Six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation (Genesis 1-2).
  • Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. Another source indicates the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They are the gifts which were to characterize the Messiah (Isaiah 11).
  • Eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes (Matthew 5).
  • Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5).
  • Ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5).
  • Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful Apostles.
  • Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in The Apostles’ Creed.

For hundreds of years the Christmas observance didn’t begin until Christmas Eve and didn’t end until Epiphany. So, why stop the gift-giving and the carol-singing on Christmas Day? Join my family and many others as we continue to sing joyous carols (like this one), light candles, and exchange gifts – while remembering and reciting the basics of our Christian faith and passing it all along to our children and grandchildren – for twelve more days!  

Bits of this information is from: 

  1. Ann Ball, Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals.
  2. Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, Catholic Tradition.

BUT… 

Most of this came from my mother who was committed to passing her faith on to my brother and me. For that, I am so grateful. 

12 thoughts on “12 Days of Christmas”

    1. Thanks, Ruth, for pausing here at the Southwest Conference of the UCC to spend a bit of time with us on this website.We appreciate your comment upon this blog post. Stop by again to find some inspiration for your journey ahead. A blessed Advent and a meaningful 12 Days of Christmas to you!

  2. Thank you, Reverend Victoria, for a lovely memory of your mother’s teachings. How I wish I had had that type of family growing up! Now, I’m so thankful for you as a dear friend who reminds me how special a family can be.

    1. Thanks, Cheryl, for commenting upon this blog post and for visiting us here in the Southwest Conference. May your Advent and Christmas season be filled with peace and love… the everlasting love that is offered to us through Jesus Christ… the partridge in the pear tree! Victoria

  3. Thank you for the 12 Days of Christmas. I must admit that this is the first time I have seen such an interpretation. Like you, my mother passed down her faith to me which was Lutheran which greatly influenced my call to ministry.
    Blessings on your ministry and thanks again.

    1. Sandi: Thanks for reading this blog post and for commenting upon it! It has been fun to “see” you via Zoom here in the SW Conference.

      A blessed Advent to you and a meaningful Twelve Days of Christmas!

      Victoria

  4. This is a wonderful read. When I hear this song in the future I will have the connection to the meaning behind the 12 days of Christmas. Thank you for sharing this ❤

    1. Absolutely, Bethany! When you hear this Christmas song, you will remember some of the imagery. You and your family can teach the song to your children… just as my mother taught it to my brother and me. Your children might remember some of this when they are older. Merry Christmas!

  5. :Rev. Victoria S Ubben,
    Thank you for an interesting read, with faith filled images. It gives to meaning to the song. We have the glass ware with the twelve days of Christmas. I will look at them more closely with your article in mind.

    1. Dean: Thanks for reading and commenting upon this blog post. Please DO look more closely at your glassware this season! Try to recall… what ARE the four calling birds… or those five golden rings??? Every Christmas season it is good to recall the twelve points of the Apostles’ Creed. We have Christmas dishes that help us to remember these things.
      Blessings to you! Victoria

  6. As a lay person, I have never heard this before! Being raised in the Catholic family and in keeping an open mind to what is written in the Bible I have found it difficult to FIND a church to call home! And yet the Bible and listening to others I have known to be of higher intelligence on matters than I help me find answers to questions! I learn something new every day, isn’t that what LIFE is about? W.W.J.D.?
    Thank you Rev. Victoria for your words at all the right times! God Bless you and your family!
    George

    1. George: Thank you for taking the time during this busy Christmas season to visit us “virtually” here on our Southwest Conference webpage. In response to your comment, I know that I try to surround myself with people who help me to be my BEST self. My prayer for you during this holy season is that you might be able to surround yourself with people who can help you to explore new ideas and (hopefully) strengthen your faith. If you have not done so already, perhaps you might find an in-person faith community that will help you to learn new things and become more devout in your faith. And even if you do not find an in-person faith community to help you on your journey, please visit us here on this website for some inspiration and new ideas. Peace to you. Victoria

Comments are closed.