The Hidden Meaning of

"The 12 Days of Christmas"

People often think of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as the days preceding the festival.  Christmas is a season of the Christian Year that begins December 25th and lasts until January 6th - the Day of Epiphany when the church celebrates the revelation of Christ as the light of the world and recalls the journey of the Magi.

From late 1550's to the 1800's people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. During this era someone wrote "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as a kind of secret catechism that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation - the surface meaning plus, a hidden meaning known only to members of the church.

Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.

3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love

the three gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13).

4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.

5. The five gold rings recall the Torah (Law) the first five books of the Old Testament.

6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

7. Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes are the blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–11).

9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points in the Apostles Creed.