Drennon's Twelve Days of Christmas
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PLEASE NOTE: This page contains true information about the custom of twelve days of Christmas, the origin and meaning of the song by that name, and some humor concerning this event.
The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th), which is when the three wise men supposedly arrived on the scene. It is NOT the twelve days before Christmas as many erroneously believe.
The tradition of giving a gift on each of the twelve days is pretty much gone, at least as practiced in the USA. However, in some families, the tradition of giving Christmas gifts on each of those twelve days persists.
Most people know of The Twelve Days of Christmas from the song of that name.
ORIGIN OF "THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"
An Underground Catechism (**an urban myth**)
Below is printed a popular urban myth about "The Twelve
Days of Christmas" that first hit the net in 1995 via an article from Catholic
Information Network (by Fr. Hal Stockert of Fishnetsite) that later withdrew its
page. However, the urban myth has spread through the net like DNA, though the
original source as long withdrawn its claim to the story. (Don't feel bad. We
were taken by that page, too!) However, according to A Celebration and
History(ISBN 0-679-74038-4), by Leigh Grant, the written lyrics to "The
Twelve Days of Christmas" first appeared in Mirth without Mischief
in the early 1780s in England. Grant states that the tune to which these words
are sung apparently dates back much further and came from France. Mirth
without Mischief describes "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as a type of
memory game played by children at that time. A leader recited the first verse,
the next child recited the second verse, and so on until someone missed a verse
and had to pay some kind of penalty in the game. There was no religious
significance. At anyrate the popular urban myth makes a good story... at least
as good as the song itself, so here is a slice of urban myth culture for
you:
Most folks, I believe, are familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas". If you listen to the words carefully, it seems like nonsence set to rhyme and music. However, it was written with a serious purpose.
It is more than just a list of twelve silly gifts. Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic. [Note: Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.]
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song. Actually, the catecism to which it referred was rather ecumenical so could probably be claimed to be protestant if cornered.
The song's gifts had hidden meanings to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the church. The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."
Here is a complete list of the 12 symbols with their meanings*:
1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus
Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith,
Hope and Charity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four
Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the
"Pentateuch" which contain the law condemning us of our sins.
6 Geese
A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith
8 Maids A-milking
= the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Spirit
10
Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful
apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the
Apostle's Creed
*original source of symbol meaning: an article from Catholic Information Network that we discovered in 1995 by Fr. Hal Stockert of Fishnet. We then discovered some other resources that backed-up this article, but later discovered that these all linked back to Stockert's article. In actuality, it seems that the words originated around 1780 in England and the music much earlier from France. The song was merely a child's game with no religious significance. (See the explanation in "black print" further up on this page.)
OK, so the song is thought by many (though wrongly) to be a symbolic catechism. Those who research it, say the song was merely a Children's Memory game. I know that. However, I didn't always know that. Once I tried sending my true-love of the time the twelve gifts of Christmas, figuring that would really impress her. I wanted to see what her reaction would be. I have read of others trying it, but their accounts were rather gross and they used the wrong dates and wrong gifts. Anyway, my true-love was very good at writing thank you notes, so I have it well documented. NOTE: After this act, she withdrew from being my true love, so I will withold her real address and name.
Following is the replies to each of the 12 gifts:
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Miss Sara Truelove December 26 |
With deepest Love and Devotion,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove December 27 |
With deepest Love,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove December 28 |
Love,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove December 29 |
Today the postman delivered four calling birds. Now, really, they're quite nice, but now I have 10 birds and nowhere to put any more....so please, no more birds!! But, thanks.
Affectionately,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove December 30 |
All my love,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove December 31 |
Please stop. NO MORE BIRDS!!
Cordially,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove January 1 |
Happy New Year...to some people. It hasn't been so happy with me. What's with you and those dumb birds? Seven swans a-swimming. What kind of practical joke is this? There's bird guana all over the house and they never stop squawking. I could not sleep all night and I'm a nervous wreck. You have gone too far, bird brain. STOP SENDING BIRDS. NO MORE BIRDS!! GOT IT?
Sincerely,
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove January 2 |
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove January 3 |
Sara
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Miss Sara Truelove January 4 |
I'm filing a complaint to the police about you!
One who means it.
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Miss Sara Truelove January 5 |
I hope you're satisfied, you rotten, vicious swine.
Your sworn enemy,
Sara
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Law Offices |
Cordially,
Law Firm of
Sue, Pillage, and Plunder
Thus, be warned. We do not recommend that you litteraly carry on the tradition of this song in your celebration of Chrstmas!