People often think of The Twelve Days of Christmas as the days preceding
the festival. Actually, Christmas is a season of the Christian Year that last for
days beginning December 25 and lasting until January 6- 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 1558 until 1829 Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith
openly. During that 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.
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ. The two turtledoves are the Old and
New Testaments. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love. The four
calling birds are the four Gospels. The five gold rings recall the torah (Law) the
first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days
of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit. The eight
maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing These are the nine
fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5). The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples. Twelve drummers
drumming symbolize the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed.
There you have it. the HIDDEN meaning of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
and the secret behind the song.
