By Jacqueline Kelly –
Christmas season is a period of love, peace and good will to all. For most of us Christmas is the most important celebration of the year. Christmas is a fact of history commencing a new era that is celebrated universally and treasured for time spent with friends, family – gatherings, gift-giving and feasting.
The Twelve Days of Christmas is actually a catechism song and marks the longest holiday in the Christian liturgical calendar. Between the years 1558-1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Without regular mass, sacraments or catechism lessons from the Priest, there was little parents could do to help their children learn. This carol was created to keep the Catholic faith in their lives, even though hidden for the time. This carol is counted in the manner of a cumulative song in a series of increasingly numerous gifts given on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The song published in England in 1780 without music or chant is thought to be French in origin. The Twelve Days of Christmas has a Roud Folk Song with an index number of 68. The tunes vary. The standard tune now associated with it is derived from a 1909 arrangement of a traditional folk melody by English Composer, Frederic Austin, who introduced the familiar prolongation of the verse “five gold rings” published in 1780.
It is a famous song about someone receiving lots of presents from their “true love”. True Love is Jesus Christ, because truly love was born on Christmas Day and we call Mary the Mother of God because her Son is truly God. The “me” who receives the presents symbolises every baptized person.
According to Ann Ball in her book, “Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals”:
A Partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators.
Two turtle doves – Old and New Testaments
Three French hens – Faith, Hope and Love
Four calling birds – Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five gold rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, the history and laws of ancient Israel which describe man’s fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Saviour.
Six geese a-laying – Six days of Creation
Seven swans a-swimming – Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit [Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord] or the Seven Sacraments.
Eight maids a-milking – Eight beatitudes
Nine ladies dancing – Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit [Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control]
Ten lords a-leaping – Ten Commandments
Eleven pipers piping – Eleven faithful Apostles
Twelve drummers drumming – Twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed
The Twelve Days of Christmas also known as “Twelve tide”, is a festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus. In most Western ecclesiastical traditions , “Christmas Day” is considered the “First Day of Christmas” and the Twelve days begin on December 25 and ends on the eve of January 5 known as Twelfth Night. In 567, the Council of Tours proclaimed the Twelve Days from Christmas to Epiphany as a sacred and festive season. This was done in order to solve the “administrative problem for the Roman Empire as it tried to coordinate the Solar Julian Calendar with the Lunar Calendars of its provinces in the east.”
Christians believe that the Twelve Days of Christmas mark the amount of time it took after the Birth of Jesus for the Magi [Wise men] to travel to Bethlehem for the Epiphany when they recognized Him as the Son of God. Epiphany, also called Feast of the Epiphany, Theophany or Three Kings ‘Day is derived from the Greek word “epiphaneia” meaning “manifestation”. Epiphany is an ancient Christian Feast Day and is significant in a number of ways. It celebrates the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and also celebrates the Birth of
Jesus Christ. Epiphany also means “revelation” and both the visit of the Wise men and His
Baptism are important times when Jesus was “revealed” to be very significant.
Some countries celebrate Epiphany on the evening before or on the actual day with parades of decorative floats and people in costume as the Kings bearing gifts. Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and other Western Churches observe the feast on January 6, while some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Epiphany on January 19, since their Christmas Eve falls on January 6.
Magi, singular Magus, called Wise men, in Christian tradition, the noble pilgrims “from the East” who followed a guiding star to Bethlehem. [Matthew 2: 1-12]. The Magi visited Jesus because Herod asked them to find Jesus so he could kill Him. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning. Gold as a symbol of Kingship on earth and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings. Frankincense or incense, as a symbol of deity, myrrh [an embalming oil] as a symbol of death. This dates back to Origen in Contra Celsum: “gold, as to a King, myrrh, as to one who was mortal ; and incense, as to God.
The Twelve Days each traditionally celebrate a feast day for a Saint and /or have different celebrations.
Day 1 [December 25]: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the Seven Principal Feasts.
Day 2 [December 26]: Saint Stephen’s Day. He was a Deacon and Martyr. On Saint Stephen’s Day people traditionally have their horses blessed.
Also, known as Boxing Day and the day when the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas” takes place. “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Saint Stephen when the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even”. King Wenceslas, about whom John Neale wrote this carol, became Duke of Bohemia in A.D. 924. He was a man of great faith who worked diligently to spread Christianity throughout Bohemia.
King Wenceslas served the people very well, especially the children and the poor. But his reign lasted only five years. His brother, Boleslaw, invited Wenceslas to a religious festival, then attacked and murdered him on the way there.
Day 3 [December 27]: Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. In some countries, wine is blessed and consumed.
Day 4 [December 28]: Feast of the Holy Innocents. People remember the baby boys , King Herod killed when he was trying to find and kill Baby Jesus.
Day 5 [December 29]: Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170 for challenging the King’s authority over the Church.
Day 6 [December 30]: Saint Egwin of Worcester and Feast of the Holy Family. The dates differ as it is celebrated on a Sunday after Christmas, bringing it within the Christmas season.
Day 7 [December 31]: New Year’s Eve [known as Hogmanay in Scotland] or Saint Sylvester’s Day. Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated on this day. He was one of the earliest Popes [4th cent]. In many Central and Eastern European countries, New Year’s Eve is still sometimes called “Silvester”. In the U.K, New Year’s Eve was a traditional day for games and sporting competitions. Archery was a very popular sport and during the middle ages it was the law that it had to be practised by all men between the ages 17-60 on Sundays after Mass. The King had many good archers ready in case he had to go to war.
Day 8 [January 1]: Feast of the circumcision of Christ celebrated by Lutheran and Anglican Churches and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God celebrated by the Catholic Church.
Day 9 [January 2]: Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory Nazianzen, two important 4th century Christians.
Day 10 [January 3]: Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. Jesus was officially ‘named’ in the Jewish Temple. It is celebrated by different Churches on different dates.
Day 11 [January 4]: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American Saint, who lived in the 18th and 19th cent. In the past it also celebrated the feast of Saint Simon Stylites [who lived in a small platform on the top of a pillar for 37 years].
Day 12 [January 5]: Known as Epiphany Eve. Saint John Neumann who was the first Bishop in America. [19th century]
Twelfth night was a big time of celebration with people holding large parties. During these parties, often the roles in society were reversed with the servants being served by the rich people. This dated back to Medieval and Tudor times when twelfth night marked the end of “winter’ which had started on October 31 and All Hallows Eve [Halloween].
Throughout the twelve days of Christmastide many people view Nativity plays, musical and theatrical presentations. In the Russian Orthodox Church, Christmastide is referred to as “Svyatki”, meaning “Holy Days”. It is celebrated from the Nativity of Christ [January7] to the
Theophany or baptism of Christ [January 19] During this period , people engage themselves in attending Church services, singing Christmas carols and spiritual hymns, visiting relatives and friends, sick, orphans, aged and giving alms. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Babouschka a character similar to the Italian Befana, has returned as a favourite of the Russian Christmas tradition.
The first Monday after the Christmas feast had finished was known as “Plough Monday” as this was when farming work would all begin again.
Wishing all the readers
the special gifts of Christmastime ……
the joy of friendship,
the love of family,
and the lasting warmth of peace and hope
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2021
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