The Twelve Days of Christmas

Many people believe that the 12 Days of Christmas begin 12 days BEFORE Christmas, but actually we are in the midst of the twelve days, which began the night of the 25th of December and ends on the morning of January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Today is the 3rd Day of Christmas.

In the Middle Ages these 12 days were ones of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which culminates on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas Season.

Some Christians assign symbolism to the gifts in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, and this symbolism is what I thought would fun to share with you today:

The 'partridge in a pear tree' is symbolic of Jesus on the cross.

The 'two turtle doves' are the Old and New Testaments.

The 'three French hens' are the three Persons of the Holy Trinity or the three virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.

The 'four calling birds' are the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; or their Gospels. Which makes sense because they are "calling" out the story.

'Five gold rings' are the first five books of the Bible, or the Pentateuch.

'Six geese a-laying' refer to the six days of the Creation.

'Seven swans a-swimming' are the seven sacraments and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

'Eight maids a-milking' are the eight Beatitudes.

'Nine ladies dancing' are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

'Ten lords a-leaping' are the Ten Commandments.

'Eleven pipers piping' are the eleven faithful Apostles.

'Twelve drummers drumming' are the twelve doctrines in the Apostles' Creed.

This interpretation is usually taught with the story that British Catholics, suffering persecution in the 16th century, wrote the song with these hidden meanings. The song would have served as a learning and memory tool.

For some coloring fun during the Twelve Days of Christmas, check out this link:
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/coloring/12dayscolor.htm