Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" [Underground Catechism]

http://www.cin.org/twelvday.html ^ | 12-26-03 | Courtesy of Catholic Information Network

[Salvation]

 

ORIGIN OF
"THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"

An Underground Catechism

You're all familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I think. To most it's a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written.

It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts.

Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law - private OR public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith - a memory aid, when to be caught with anything in *writing* indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you imprisoned, it could get you hanged, or shortened by a head - or hanged, drawn and quartered, a rather peculiar and ghastly punishment I'm not aware was ever practiced anywhere else. Hanging, drawing and quartering involved hanging a person by the neck until they had almost, but not quite, suffocated to death; then the party was taken down from the gallows, and disembowelled while still alive; and while the entrails were still lying on the street, where the executioners stomped all over them, the victim was tied to four large farm horses, and literally torn into five parts - one to each limb and the remaining torso.

The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."

The other symbols mean the following:

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

--Fr. Hal Stockert  12/17/95

P.S. It has come to our attention that this tale is made up of both fact and fiction. Hopefully it will be accepted in the spirit it was written. As an encouragement to people to keep their faith alive, when it is easy, and when any outward expressions of their faith could mean their life. Today there are still people living under similar conditions, may this tale give them courage, and determination to use any creative means at their disposal to keep their faith alive.

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[.30Carbine]

I'm so glad you found this, posted it, and pinged me to it! Thank you.

Midday Connection, of Moody Broadcasting, interviewed Ace Collins, author of Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, last Wedsnesday. As the website archive says, "Ace talked with listeners about the history of Christmas trees, poinsettias, mistletoe, the Twelve Days of Christmas, Santa Claus, and other loved traditions surrounding the celebration of Jesus’ birth."

Ace mentioned only that the 10 lords a'leaping represented God's Ten Commandments, none of the other symbolisms. I was eager to find out more about the song's origin and history, but unable to order Ace's book. Here is a link to his site, in case anyone else is interested in the wonderful research he's done: Ace Collins

God bless your new year with His peace in every circumstance.

[NeoCaveman]

Happy New Year 30!!!

[.30Carbine]

Hello you gorgeous hunk of manhood....I DID get my husband's permission to say that!

(He's standing right over my left shoulder.) LOLuv!

[.30Carbine]

And happiest of new year's right back!

[NeoCaveman]

Hello you gorgeous hunk of manhood....I DID get my husband's permission to say that!

You could be my PR agent :-) Happy New Years to your hubby too. Hope it brings you two all the best.

[Salvation]

You are welcome, 30!

Here is some more information about today:

On the seventh day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me: seven
swans a-swimming.
This symbol represents the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. "Wisdom,
understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the
Lord complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.
They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations."
(CCC 1831)

[Salvation]

Also the number seven is said to stand for the seven sacraments.

BTW -- this information is available on Catholic Information Network -- see the banner at the top of the post.

[Salvation]

On the eighth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, eight
maids a-milking.
The eight maids milking represent the eight beatitudes listed in Mt
5:3-10. These are listed in a different manner in Lk 6:20-23.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[Salvation]

On the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, nine ladies
dancing.
This verse is a reference to the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Gal
5:22-23. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

[Salvation]

On the tenth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, ten lords
a-leaping.
These ten lords represent the Ten Commandments, also known as
the Decalogue, and are handed on to us in the books of Exodus and
Deuteronomy.
In the book of Exodus, the Commandments are found at Ex 20:1-17.
I the LORD am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
You shall have no other gods besides me.
You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbors house, nor anything else that
belongs to him. (abridged, from Ex 20:1-17)

[Salvation]

On the eleventh day of Christmas my True Love gave to me, eleven
pipers piping.
The eleven pipers represent the eleven original Apostles who
remained faithful to Jesus.
These Apostles are Andrew, Bartholomew, James the Greater,
James the Lesser, John, Jude, Matthew, Thomas, Philip, Simon and
Peter. Although Peter denied Jesus before the Crucifixion, he is
included in this list because he repented of his mistake.

[Salvation]

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, twelve
drummers drumming.
The twelve drummers represent the twelve precepts of the Faith
presented in the Apostle's Creed. The translation of the Creed given
in the Catechism is given below.
1. I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the
Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
5. He descended into hell.
6. On the third day he rose again.
7. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
9. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
10. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
11. the holy catholic Church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
12. the resurrection of the body, and
the life everlasting.
Amen

[Dajjal]

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/12days.asp
Urban Legends Reference Pages

Claim: The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was created as a coded reference to important articles of the Christian / Catholic faith.

Status: False.