It never occurred to me that some of the Christmas songs have hidden, non-Christmas meanings until my friend started infecting my brain with weird versions of the songs!
One of the things I wanted to do this year is starting a 12-days of Christmas tradition….. doing/sharing something fun the 12 days leading up to Christmas day.
So I got curious and looked up the song on dear Google…
What does the 12-days of Christmas mean?…. I asked…
Wow!
I found a lot of things I didn’t know plus there’s a lot of debate about the validity of what I found.
So bear that in mind while I share 3 of my discoveries!!:
#1.
The 12 days are not the last 12 days leading up to Christmas…… it’s the 12 days from Christmas day to Jan 6th!!! These twelve days celebrates Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany, Jan. 6th, the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the light of the world.
#2.
Some believe that the Twelve Days of Christmas was written in code. It had a hidden message, and for a good reason.
Here’s how to decode the song:
1.The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.
#3.
The 12 days were traditionally celebrated with a feast:
Day 1: December 25 – The birth of Jesus
Day 2: December 26 – Boxing Day – St Stephen’s Day
Day 3: December 27 – St John the Apostle
Day 4: December 28 – The feast of the holy innocents – baby boys killed in an attempt to kill Jesus
Day 5: December 29 – St Thomas Becket – the day the Archbishop of Canterbury was murdered.
Day 6: December 30 – St Egwin of Worcester
Day 7: December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Day 8: January 1 – mary, the mother of Jesus
Day 9: January 2 – St Basil the Great and St Gregory Naziazen, two important 4th century Christians.
Day 10: January 3 – Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, remembering when Jesus was named.
Day 11: January 4 – St Elizabeth Ann Seton, was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Day 12: Epiphany Eve – Epiphany is Three Kings’ Day, a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. It is customary for Christians to remove their Christmas decorations on Epiphany Eve.
The Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year
With the kids gone, it’s time to reshape things….
So, I’ll still start a new tradition… and call it 12 days ’till Christmas!
And watch it evolve as the years pass by!!!
Until next time…..
I look forward to hearing from you!!
If you found value, please feel free to share!!!
Have a great week!
From the heart of a nurse….
Althea
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