The 12 days of Christmas last from Christmas Day (25 Dec) to the 6th of January. On the 6th of January Roman Catholics celebrate Epiphany.
“By ancient reckoning, days and nights were counted separately, and the important night was often the night before, not the night of, the celebration (hence modern traditions of Christmas Eve and All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween). The 12 day count actually begins with the eve of December 25, the “first night.” The day of December 26 is the “first day,” the eve of December 26 the “second night,” and so on. The famous Twelfth Night is the eve of Epiphany, and the twelfth day is Epiphany itself.” source
I decided to play around and search for meaning and wisdom in the song ’12 Days of Christmas’ in order to find guidance during this Holy time.
Interestingly these 12 days are the link between the Roman Catholic Christmas and Orthodox Christian Christmas celebrations. Catholics celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, on the 25th of December according to the Julian Calendar and Orthodox Christians celebrate it on the 7th of January according to the Georgian Calendar. The two are the same day.
On the last day of the 12-day-of-Christmas, Christians observe Epiphany or enlightenment when the Holy Spirit enlightens the ‘faithful’ with wisdom and revelations of Christ’s teachings. The 12 days of Christmas is the bridge between Christmas Day and the day of Epiphany. On Christmas day, ‘my true love’ aka God gives me my first gift of Christ, the promise of enlightenment, atonement and eternal life. By the time we walked the bride of the 12-day across, we have collected and regained certain qualities that we must possess in order to observe the revelations and receive the Holy Spirit on the day of Epiphany.
This year I wish to observe these twelve days through the famous song and research the meaning in the symbolism of the song.
All writings on the Symbolism of the 12-Days-of-Christmas
[Verse 1]
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 2]
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 3]
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 4]
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 5]
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 6]
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 7]
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 8]
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 9]
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 10]
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 11]
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
[Verse 12]
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
