Twelve Days of Christmas

We have a couple more days of Christmas postings before we get back to routine NA Health issues and topics.

Over the years, there have been many stories associated with the customs of Christmas. Some have been true, some false and many others a combination of the two. The internet and certain organizations have also continued to propagate certain stories with varied truth.

The Twelve Days of Christmas is one such Christmas song that has a varied history. Some legends say it was a way in which persecuted English people used the song in some sort of code to continue to spread the news of Christianity and specifically to teach the catechism message around the Christmas season. The codes related to the song are reported to represent the following:

1 Partridge in pear tree = Jesus on the cross
2 Turtle doves = Old and New Testaments
3 French hens = Faith, hope, and charity
4 Calling birds = Four Gospels and/or four evangelists
5 Golden rings = 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 Spirit
10 Lords a-leaping = Ten Commandments
11 Pipers piping = Eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers drumming = Twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Although this may have some truth associated, history probably does not support it entirely.

There certainly was a time in England’s history that Christians were persecuted and prohibited from openly practicing their Catholic faith. The years in question were from about 1558 to 1829. This began when England’s Catholic Queen Mary (Bloody Mary) was succeeded by her protestant half-sister, Elizabeth. During these years, Catholics were forbidden by law to openly practice their faith and punishments ranged from mild persecution to death. But the majority of these years were not horrible for Catholics. In fact, during much of Elizabeth’s reign, there was the practice referred to as Via Media (the “Middle Way”) allowing some to practice a faith with a combination of both Catholicism and Protestantism. Even during the times when persecution was severe, there was really no need to be secretive about the hidden truths that the Twelve Days of Christmas supposedly told. In fact, most of these things were common with the protestant teachings and not solely catechism teachings.

In addition to this, just knowing what these twelve things represented did not really help the average person unless they knew more of the specifics. For example, 12 drummers drumming related to 12 points in the Apostles creed, but unless you knew these 12 points, it really would not be real helpful in propagating the Catholic teaching.

More evidence leads to thinking that the song actually originated in France and wasn’t used in England until the latter part of the 1700’s. The partridge was a symbol known and used in France. In addition, France had been Catholic for years; therefore not really needing secretive ways to spread the Catechism message.

A song entitled “A New Dial” or “In those Twelve Days” had been recorded in the literature from about 1625. It was very spiritual in nature but was in no way meant to teach a catechism message. While there is no direct evidence to link these songs, the meanings associated with days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 were the same in both. There is also no specific indication that Englishmen routinely used songs or rhymes as a pneumonic for spiritual beliefs although it is possible.

So we can see that there is some controversy as to what the song actually represents. There is probably some truth to the representations made above, but the exact implications are just speculative.