Every year when I was full time at KILT I read this on the air. Every year the office staff worked liked Santa's Elves to fax and email copies to listeners who wanted it. So since I am no longer able to read it to you, I will post it here. Please share with your friends and family.
The Christian’s Twelve Days of Christmas!!
The Twelve Days of Christmas are the 12 days between Christmas (December 25) and the Epiphany (January 6), which is when the three Magi arrived with Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Origin of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
An Underground Catechism
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 nonsense 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 1558-1829 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 catechism to which it referred was rather ecumenical so they could claim to be Protestant if cornered.
The songs 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 refers to God Himself. The “me” who received the presents refers to every baptized person, i.e. the Church. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ, 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! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou would not have it so…”
The Christian’s Twelve Days of Christmas!!
A 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 or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings------------------ The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch which contains 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 point of Doctrine in the Apostles creed
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