THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Now that we've learned that St. Nick doesn't have reindeer, and hopefully has successfully directed our attention to Jesus, and in response to Pope Benedict's call to give Christmas a more traditional meaning, I'd like to post an explanation, an interpretation if you will, of the Christmas carol, "Twelve Days of Christmas".

I first started posting this in the early `90's before most people even heard of the "internet" on my hobby Bulletin Board System, My Shorts! BBS (so named in honor of Bart Simpson). The original was an ANSI file with blinking ANSI figures. At the time, making blinking colored ANSI was pretty cool. Although I can't claim singular credit for publicizing it first, heck, I didn't write it, I'm glad to see that it has made the rounds so that many have already read it by now.

Here it is:

Did You Know?

From 1558 until 1829 the Catholics of England were forbidden by law to practice their faith. As a result of this ban the ingenious Catholics devised secretive and symbolic songs to teach their children the truths of their religion. One of the most successful and beautiful of these was the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

The "Twelve Days" stand for the Christmas Season, December 25 to January 6. The "True Love" in the carol is God himself, who gives Christians special gifts on each of the twelve days.

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love game to me, A partridge in a pear tree"

The "True Love" in the carol is God himself, and the first gift, "a partridge in a pear tree", symbolizes Christ (the bird), who gathers His young under His wings. The tree harkens back to the Tree of Paradise, which Adam lost by sin and Christ promised to restore.

God's first gift, therefore, is His very own son Jesus...

"On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Two turtle doves..."

"Two turtle doves" represent the sacrifice which a Jewish family had to make at the temple upon the birth of a son. Our sacrifice is the Divine Liturgy...

"Three French Hens" symbolize the three gifts of the Magi to the newborn Messiah. They also may mean the three gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity realized in the birth of the Savior.

"Four Calling Birds" makes us think of the four evangelists whose four Gospels call us all to the Bethlehem manger of the Redeemer.

"Five Golden rings" suggests the first five books of the Old Testament, the Law or Pentateuch, which Christ came to fulfill and complete.

"Six Geese-a-Laying", ungainly but working, suggests the six days of the week, when humanity labors and brings forth the fruit of the land.

"Seven Swans-a-Swimming" reminds us of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit or even the seven works of Mercy.

"Eight Maids-a-Milking" represents the eight beatitudes that are the nourishment of Christians.

"Nine Ladies Dancing" recalls the nine ranks of angels or the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit as mentioned by St. Paul in Galatians 5:22.

"Ten Lords-a-Leaping" clearly signifies the Ten Commandments...

"Eleven Pipers Piping" refers to the eleven Apostles, now without Judas, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.

Finally, "Tweleve Drummers Drumming" reminds us of the twelve articles of faith of the Nicaean Creed.

We cannot help but marvel at the courage and faith of these English Catholics, as we read "The Twelve Days of Christmas". And then we think of our Christian brothers and sisters who are forbidden to practice their faith in some parts of the world. And we praise and thank the Lord for freedom.