12 Days of Christmas — Fun or Significant?

There is a minor debate on the internet over whether the  Christmas song, The 12 Days of Christmas, is a centuries old song sung just for fun or if it was a secret way of teaching the fundamentals of the Christian faith at a time when teaching the Catechism might have cost you your life.

The internet watchdogs point to the publication of the song in England in the 18th century with the tune predating it to France. It was nothing but a children’s game set to music, they say with certainty. But then if the message was so secret that it might have cost a person freedom or life, they wouldn’t dare tell anyone . . . so who knows.

Whether rooted in history or not, it is fun to think of religious truths when singing the song. It can even help you remember whether it is nine lords aleaping or nine ladies dancing. So why not use it to teach!

For those who want to give religious meaning to a secular song, here are the meanings some people assign to the 12 crazy Christmas gifts. If nothing else, they make an endless trivial song a bit more interesting!

  • 1 The Partridge in the Pear Tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God
  • 2 Turtle Doves represent the Old and New Testaments
  • 3 French Hens represent the Virtues—Faith, Hope and Charity
  • 4 Calling Birds represent the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
  • 5 Golden Rings represent The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”
  • 6 Geese A-laying represent the six days of creation
  • 7 Swans A-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, wonder, right judgment, knowledge, courage, and reverence)
  • 8 Maids A-milking represent the eight beatitudes
  • 9 Ladies Dancing represent the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
  • 10 Lords A-leaping represent the ten commandments
  • 11 Pipers Piping represent the eleven faithful apostles
  • 12 Drummers Drumming represent the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed