History of the 12 Days of Christmas

 

Many people think of Christmas as a single day. However, Christmas is a season sometimes referred to as "Christmastide".

Christmas is the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the long-awaited Son of God. Christmas day is December 25 followed by 11 more days of Christmas! The Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season.

The song that we are familiar with today was composed in 1909 by Frederic Austin, a British composer. Austin had access to the printed version of the song in the English children's book Mirth With-out Mischief which was published in 1780.

However, some musicologists believe that the 12 Days of Christmas was originally a French song. 

The "four calling birds" were “four colly birds", a British reference to blackbirds. In other old versions of the song, the partridge is replaced with a "very pretty peacock upon a pear tree." 

It is believed that this delightful and memorable song once served to teach children about the Christian Faith. Catholic families may have used it to secretly pass the faith onto their children at a time when Roman Catholics were persecuted in England. 

Each gift speaks of a different aspect of Christianity:

The Partridge in the Pear Tree is Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The 2 Turtle Doves are The Old and New Testaments.

The 3 French hens are the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

The 4 Calling Birds are the four gospels or the four evangelists.

The 5 Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testament (the Septuagint).

The 6 Geese A-laying are the six days of creation.

The 7 Swans A-swimming are the 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 doctrinal points of the Apostle’s Creed.