12 Days Song

I've typically been annoyed by the 12 Days of Christmas song. It ranks right up there with "100 bottles of...on the wall". Kids know how to sing it loudly and love to on long bus rides.

However, I have found a bit more joy in the 12 Days of Christmas in the past few years because I've played the accompaniment for it during our annual school Christmas sing-a-long. The kids singing it so excitedly is just fun. I also think it's fun when they come out with the annual prices for each item. I would make my students add up how much it would cost to purchase the 12 Days' worth of items.

And now I think I like the song even more.

I love little bits of trivia...the more useless the better. Even if this isn't true, I think it's very interesting and it's worth memorizing...

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.