Have you ever wondered why "my true love" would give you such strange gifts as trutle doves, french hens, ladies dancing, swans a swimming, and so on. Well according to the Catholic News Agency (CNA) and other corroborating sources, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas Carol which was written as a song to teach young Catholic children their faith in a concealed manner.
Why the need for secrecy? Well from 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed ANY practice of their faith by law, neither private or public. So someone from this time took it upon themselves to write a clever carol that would allow young Catholics to learn about their faith and even sing it out aloud, with the true hidden meaning known only to members of the Church.
Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality in our Catholic Faith which the children could associate with. So let us see what all these gifts were about!
First of all, who is this "True Love" that lavishes us with all these gifts? Well it is not a hopelessly romantic boy or girl, but rather Jesus Christ, because true Love was born on Christmas Day. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person.
The partridge in the pear tree also represents Jesus. This particular breed of bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by pretending to be injured in order to draw predators away.
The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The five golden rings focused on the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and God's great love for us, in sending us a Savior.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. [At the time the carol was written the gifts of the Holy Spirit were as follows: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.]
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----love [charity], joy, peace, patience, kindness [goodness], generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [chastity]. To fit the number scheme, when the carol reaches the number 9, the creator of the carol combined some of the fruits that were similar (the fruit in each bracket were the ones not named separately). {at the time the carol was written the fruits of the Holy Spirit were as follows: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity]}. There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. I. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image.
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
III. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.
IV. Honor your father and mother.
V. You shall not kill.
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
VII. You shall not steal
VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
X. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.
1. Peter (originally named Simon)
2. Andrew
3. James
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Thomas
8. Matthew
9. James
10. Thaddeus
11. Simon
12. Judas
So why only 11pipers pipping? Well the key word is "faithful" apostles. Judas betrayed Jesus and therefore not included in this carol. After the fall of Judas, the remaining eleven apostles eventually chose Matthias as an apostle which brought the number back up to twelve.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed. 1. I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
2. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
3. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
4. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,
5. and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
6. He ascended into heaven
7. and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
8. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
9. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
10. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
11. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
12. and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
So the next time you sing the Twelve Days of Christmas we hope it brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart knowing the true meaning behind this cherished carol.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----love [charity], joy, peace, patience, kindness [goodness], generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [chastity]. To fit the number scheme, when the carol reaches the number 9, the creator of the carol combined some of the fruits that were similar (the fruit in each bracket were the ones not named separately). {at the time the carol was written the fruits of the Holy Spirit were as follows: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity]}. There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit.