Today is the Second Day of Christmas. Yes, we have 12 Days of Christmas. Around 566, the Second Council of Tours recognized the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany as an extension of the Christmas feast.
I’m sure your familiar with the Christmas song The 12 Days of Christmas. Did you know that each of the “gifts” has a deeper Christian meaning? Let’s look at each code and its corresponding Christian truth.
- The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
- The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
- Three French hens represent faith, hope and love.
- The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
- The five gold rings recall the first five books of the Old Testament.
- The size geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
- The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.
- Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
- Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
- Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle Creed.
- that next time your hear this Christmas song you will smile to yourself and remember that you’re listening to coded messages—concepts that non-believers would not know.
I certainly hope that next time your hear this Christmas song you will smile to yourself and remember that you’re listening to coded messages—concepts that non-believers would not know.