On The First Day...
You probably hear the song at least once every holiday season and you may even know the verses by heart. It's "The 12 Days of Christmas"-you know, the song of gifts in which the narrator receives a partridge in a pear tree on the first day of Christmas, two turtledoves on the second day and so forth. While at first glance, it may just seem like a silly song full of Christmas gifts and cheer, according to legend, there may have been a more serious meaning within the song.
In 1558, Mary I died and her half-sister Elizabeth I took the English throne. Unlike Mary, Queen Elizabeth was not Catholic. The following year, she restored the Church of England through the Act of Uniformity. The act forbid the open practice of Catholicism, leaving Catholics to practice their faith secretly until 1829 when Parliament passed the Catholic Emancipation Act. Legend has it that "The 12 Days of Christmas" was penned during this time to serve as a sort of catechism for young Catholics. Each element in the carol served as a reminder of some tenet of the Catholic faith. In the opening line, for example, "my true love" referred to God and "a partridge in a pear tree" to his son Christ. Hence, God gave the narrator the gift of his son Christ.
In subsequent lines of the song, God gives the narrator other gifts. The religious meanings behind these are as follows:
2 turtledoves-Old and New Testaments
3 French hens-Faith, hope and charity
4 calling birds-Four gospels
5 golden rings-First five books of the Old Testament or the Pentateuch
6 geese a-laying-Six days of creation
7 swans a-swimming-Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
8 maids a-milking-Eight beatitudes
9 ladies dancing-Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 lords a-leaping-10 commandments
11 pipers piping-11 faithful apostles
12 drummers drumming-12 points of belief in the Apostles' Creed
While many believe that the song did indeed serve as a catechism for young Catholics, some claim otherwise. They argue that the song has no hidden religious meaning, and even if it did, it is neither Catholic nor Protestant as many of the tenets described above apply to both faiths. According to some experts, if the song has any religious meaning at all, it may well be because the song is in fact a version of "A New Dial" which dates back to 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the 12 days of Christmas.
Whatever the meaning of "The 12 Days of Christmas," the song has certainly become a beloved carol. Numerous artists and choirs have recorded it over the years and more are sure to follow.
You probably hear the song at least once every holiday season and you may even know the verses by heart. It's "The 12 Days of Christmas"-you know, the song of gifts in which the narrator receives a partridge in a pear tree on the first day of Christmas, two turtledoves on the second day and so forth. While at first glance, it may just seem like a silly song full of Christmas gifts and cheer, according to legend, there may have been a more serious meaning within the song.
In 1558, Mary I died and her half-sister Elizabeth I took the English throne. Unlike Mary, Queen Elizabeth was not Catholic. The following year, she restored the Church of England through the Act of Uniformity. The act forbid the open practice of Catholicism, leaving Catholics to practice their faith secretly until 1829 when Parliament passed the Catholic Emancipation Act. Legend has it that "The 12 Days of Christmas" was penned during this time to serve as a sort of catechism for young Catholics. Each element in the carol served as a reminder of some tenet of the Catholic faith. In the opening line, for example, "my true love" referred to God and "a partridge in a pear tree" to his son Christ. Hence, God gave the narrator the gift of his son Christ.
In subsequent lines of the song, God gives the narrator other gifts. The religious meanings behind these are as follows:
2 turtledoves-Old and New Testaments
3 French hens-Faith, hope and charity
4 calling birds-Four gospels
5 golden rings-First five books of the Old Testament or the Pentateuch
6 geese a-laying-Six days of creation
7 swans a-swimming-Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
8 maids a-milking-Eight beatitudes
9 ladies dancing-Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 lords a-leaping-10 commandments
11 pipers piping-11 faithful apostles
12 drummers drumming-12 points of belief in the Apostles' Creed
While many believe that the song did indeed serve as a catechism for young Catholics, some claim otherwise. They argue that the song has no hidden religious meaning, and even if it did, it is neither Catholic nor Protestant as many of the tenets described above apply to both faiths. According to some experts, if the song has any religious meaning at all, it may well be because the song is in fact a version of "A New Dial" which dates back to 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the 12 days of Christmas.
Whatever the meaning of "The 12 Days of Christmas," the song has certainly become a beloved carol. Numerous artists and choirs have recorded it over the years and more are sure to follow.
