Twelve Days of Christmas

by Sheila
(Midwest)

One of my favorite traditions is the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Most people now-a-days think the 12 Days are BEFORE Christmas, but, in fact, they start AFTER Christmas.

From December 26th, to the night of January 6th,(actually early morning, which is the night of January 5th) the days are honored by some with special festivities and gift giving (know any songs?).

In older times and different countries, Christmas traditions included special dinners, parties, and gifts culminating on the evening of January 5th, with a twelfth night party, and finishing the next day with a celebration of the Feast of the Kings. (Yes the 5th which is the 11th day, 12th night.)

We don't actually give gifts each day, but it is a time for us that we keep track of until the Epiphany. Because we observe the Advent season as a time of preparation for Christmas, (not for celebrating Christmas already) our real celebrations start with Midnight Mass and continue on through the Epiphany when we have a special party for the children and give Epiphany gifts.

There have also been some claims that the song, The 12 Days of Christmas, was begun as a religious means of instruction during Medieval times when religion was taboo. Just like the Deck of Cards song, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPjeHr5WK0g (this is the original, but there are also versions for more current wars) it gives religious meaning to each of the 'gifts' given on each day.

Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

(Thanks to http://www.carols.org.uk/the_twelve_days_of_christmas.htm for the wording!)

From those of us at Tea Party Guide, we wish each of you a Merry Christmas and hope that your Christmas Season is filled with the Joy of Christ all the way through the Season.