The Twelve Days of Christmas are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (December 25 through January 5). Twelfth Night is January 5th, the last day of the Christmas Season before Epiphany, January 6th.
The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is thought to be a song of Christian instruction, dating from the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Christian Faith. “My True Love” is not an earthly suitor, but God Himself.
The Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus the Christ; Two Turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments; Three French Hens are the Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Love; Four Calling Birds are the Four Gospels; Five Gold Rings are the first Five Books of the Old Testament; Six Geese a-Laying are the six days of creation; Seven Swans a-Swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion); Eight Maids a-Milking are the eight Beatitudes; Nine Ladies Dancing are the nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control); Ten Lords a-Leaping are the ten commandments; Eleven Pipers Piping are the eleven Faithful Apostles; Twelve Drummers Drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed.
To celebrate the Eighth Day of Christmas, here is Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria, from our Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols Service at Third Presbyterian Church.
Happy New Year!
