“The 12 Days of Christmas”

The 12 Days of Christmas

Now, I know you all have heard the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.”  Yes it is a very great and nice song, but did you know that it is a song of a great mystery!

However, you must know that the 12 days are not leading up to Christmas Day; it is the 12 days after Christmas.  So, remember it begins on December 26^th and it ends like this…

·         On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
the traditional day for celebrating the coming of the wise men to WORSHIP JESUS.

·         My true love:
Instead of referring to a suitor, the 'true love' mentioned in the song refers to GOD. GOD is the one who gives all of these wonderful gifts to 'me', and 'me' is symbolic of every baptized person.

·         The partridge:
was chosen as a REMINDER of CHRIST. A mother partridge will feign injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings: she will literally give her life for her children. The pear tree is a REMINDER of the CROSS.

·         Two turtle doves:
the OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS of the BIBLE.

·         Three French hens:
during the 16th century, only the rich could afford these costly birds. These represent the THREE GREAT GIFTS OF FAITH, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

·         Four calling birds:
the FOUR GOSPELS, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

·         Five gold rings:
the FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, the TORAH, or the Pentateuch:  1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, These books were treated by the Jews with great reverence and considered worth more than gold (Psalm 19:10).

·         Six geese a-laying:
eggs are an almost universal symbol of new life. The laying geese stand for the SIX DAYS OF CREATION. God spoke the word and brought forth life.

·         Seven swan’s a-swimming:
the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Romans 12:6-8): prophesy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy.

·         Eight maid’s a-milking:
the EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS (Matthew 5:3-10) nourish us as milk does.

·         Nine ladies dancing:
the NINE FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22-23): love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

·         Ten lord’s a-leaping:
lords were men who had authority in people's lives. The lords are THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:  1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

·         Eleven pipers piping:
the ELEVEN APOSTLES or  that remained faithful to Jesus and people joyfully followed their message. The ELEVEN FAITHFUL APOSTLES: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James.  (Luke 6:14-16).  The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

·         Twelve drummers drumming:
the TWELVE VITAL BELIEFS that set us apart as Christians found in the APOSTLES' CREED - TWELVE POINTS OF BELIEF. 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

Now it is time to figure this out, which would be some celebration. This gives a grand total of 416 presents (including the cows, but not the eggs, milk or water).  Look for yourself:

• 12 partridges
• 12 pear trees
• 22 turtle doves
• 30 French hens
• 36 calling birds
• 40 gold rings
• 42 geese
• An unspecified number of goose eggs
• 42 swans
• A lot of water
• 40 maids
• One assumes, 40 associated cows
• More gallons of sour milk than it is pleasant to contemplate
• 36 very tired  dancing ladies
• 30 even more tired lords
• 22 breathless pipers
• 12 drummers - still drumming