Today I want to discuss the celebration of The Twelve Days of Christmas! Although it’s a foreign idea to most people in our culture, the Christmas season, or Christmastide, doesn’t actually begin until Christmas Day, and lasts for the next twelve days until the Feast of Epiphany or Three Kings Day on January 6. In these lingering days, we observe and celebrate the Incarnation: “God With Us”!
A bit of history, according to legend, each of the twelve days has an allegorical meaning pointing to different essential elements of the Christian faith. The legend says that it was used as a teaching tool to teach children the basics of the faith during the sixteenth century when Christmas was banned in England . Although in determining the accuracy of this claim I did come upon some argument that seems worth considering, as with so many of the observances during this season, our celebrations are what we choose to make of them. For me personally, attributing this meaning to the verses of this carol makes it rich with new meaning. I don't need for the "legend" to be true for anyone other than for me and my family.
However, the tradition of celebrating and observing the Twelve Days of Christmas was something our family did not discover until our daughter was a little older, and in our home that meant receiving twelve additional gifts after Christmas Day. They were all typically small in nature, or perhaps second hand. Some years I regifted items that belonged to me and held special meaning that I wanted to pass on to her, such as a special book from my library. But most days she found things such as candy, small toys from the dollar store, perhaps a new card game. A couple of years I even wrote out little clues on cards that were left on the breakfast table directing her to where she would find that days gift concealed and waiting. It was great fun.
❊ THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
The 2 Turtle Doves are The Old and New Testaments
The 3 French hens are Faith, Hope, and Charity, the theological virtues.
The 4 Calling Birds are the four gospels and/or the four evangelists.
The 5 Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testament.
The 6 Geese A-laying are the six days of creation.
The 7 Swans A-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments.
The 8 Maids A-milking are the eight beatitudes.
The 9 Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The 10 Lords A-leaping are the ten commandments.
The 11 Pipers Piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
The 12 Drummers Drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.
My little girl is all grown up now, but I still carry the happy memories of those days. So I thought that if this is something new for you and your family that I might share some of the ideas and resources that we've used in the past, and even a few that I've discovered in researching this post that you can use to perhaps begin your own traditions. Even if like me, you don't have children in the home anymore, we can still seek the gift of each day that is always present, and some of the readings I'll be sharing will aide you in that.
Today in the days following Christmas, I will be posting a small reading from some of the books and resources we've used over the years, and as I said, some that I've only just discovered, along with links to other fun resources that you can use either alone or with the littles in your life to add deeper meaning. I'l begin today by sharing some links to a few books that we have in our library and that I think would make beautiful additions to yours as well. I realize this post is a bit late in the season for you to acquire these books, if you don't already own them but I was able to find a link to a lovely reading of Jan Brett's edition which I've included below.
by Laurel Long
This is my absolute favorite book depicting this beautiful carol. Laurel Long's images, in my opinion, by far surpass any other rendition I have come across.
❊ THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
by Lara Hawthorne
I love this edition for is folksy, perhaps somewhat more modern day depiction of each of the twelve days. Definitely different than Laurel Long's, but a nice constrast to the more formal illustrations and fun for families.
❊ THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
by Jan Brett
And then of course we have the edition by the beloved Jan Brett, and you can never go wrong with Jan!
You can find a lovely reading of this book, here.
I also found a link to some lovely coloring pages, and if you're like me (just a kid at heart), you will never outgrow coloring, so no shame! The pages are lovely and definitely something even adults could enjoy! But I wanted to provide the link to them here today in the event that you want to have them pre-printed and ready to go. These pages do attest to the legend behind the song, so if that's not something you want to include, the second link below will take you to a beautiful set that follows along with the traditional story behind the song.
And just for further explanation, according to legend, the earthly suitor, referred to as the "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God himself. The "me" who receives the presents is symbolic of every baptized person. The "partridge in the pear tree" is Jesus Christ, symbolically presented as a mother partridge who feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings the meaning of the other symbols are as follows:
The 3 French hens are Faith, Hope, and Charity, the theological virtues.
The 4 Calling Birds are the four gospels and/or the four evangelists.
The 5 Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testament.
The 6 Geese A-laying are the six days of creation.
The 7 Swans A-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments.
The 8 Maids A-milking are the eight beatitudes.
The 9 Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The 10 Lords A-leaping are the ten commandments.
The 11 Pipers Piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
The 12 Drummers Drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.
So I hope you'll join me in lingering in these lovely days of Christmas, and perhaps find new meaning in an old song.
❈
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