The Twelve Days of Christmas

We have all sang this well-known Christmas carol many times!
But are you aware of the true meaning of the words?
It's purpose when it was written was not to be a repetitious melody
with a lot of strange gifts. But a way to sing praise to God.

There was a time (1528 - 1829) when it was prohibited to declare your
faith, publicly or privately. Your faith could not only get you imprisoned,
it could get you hanged in a particularly gruesome way. You would be
killed for acknowledging your faith. The songs gifts were a way to
sing of your faith, for they have hidden meanings. The 'true love'
mentioned in the song does not refer to an earthly suitor, but to
God Himself! The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. The world celebrates Christmas for twelve hours, but the
song celebrates for twelve days because the gift of Christ
is with us all twelve months of the year!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A Partridge in a pear tree.
The "true love" represents God and the "me" who receives these
presents is the Christian.
The "partridge in the pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on
a tree as a gift from God.

The two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments,
another gift from God.

The three French hens are Faith, Hope, and Charity -
three gifts of the Spirit that abide.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Four calling birds are the four Gospels, Matthew - Mark -
Luke - John - which sing of Salvation through Christ.

The five golden rings represent the first five books of the
Old Testament, which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

The six geese a laying are the six days of creation.

Seven swans a swimming are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,
the seven sacraments.
(1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

The eight maids a milking are the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

Ten Lords a leaping are the ten commandments.

Eleven pipers piping were the eleven faithful disciples.

And the twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of
doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

The next time you sing this song, stop for a minute and praise
His Holy Name! You are able to publicly claim your faith in
Jesus Christ!

MERRY CHRISTMAS