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:
- Ann Ball, Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals.
- 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.