On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Sent to Me….

I thought I would do a fun but informative devotion this week as we are now in the Christmas Season, that “most wonderful time of the year”.

As children we often learn many Christmas Carols but don’t really understand their meanings or origins. Such is the case for many with The Twelve Days of Christmas, so years ago while home schooling my children I did a little research.

What we found was that no one really knows where, when or why the song was written. It could have been a code or it may not have been, regardless it is a wonderful way to learn Biblical lessons.

The twelve days of Christmas are between Christmas and Epiphany or “We Three Kings (The Magi or Three Wiseman) Day”, January 6th. It is thought by some that it took the Three Wise Men twelve days to travel to Bethlehem. In the Catholic Church Christmas season doesn’t officially begin until Christmas Day and ends when the Wise Men bring gifts to their Savior in Bethlehem. Few practice this tradition of giving in the United States but some still do.

The Christmas carol is thought to be written by a Catholic and an Englishman, as the song originates from Great Britain, sometime before or during the 16th century. It was popular in Great Britain and Scandinavia during this time, which is why many believe that the song had a powerful sub message due to persecution. We may never know for sure but the attributed meanings are still very relevant and for those who want to teach their children a few Bible lessons, this song is a wonderful tool.

In the early 20th century, Frederick Austin wrote an arrangement where he added his melody from “Five gold rings” onwards (The New Oxford Book of Carols), which has since become the melody we know and love today.

Here are the interpretations and many churches have revised them to suit their teaching and doctrines.

My true love — God (The Trinity – three in one)
Me — The Baptized Christian
Partridge in a Pear Tree — Jesus Christ our Savior
Two Turtle Doves — The Old and New Testaments
Three French hens — Faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13)
Four calling birds — The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five gold rings — The First Five Books of the Bible (Pentateuch)
Six geese a-laying — The Six Days of Creation (Genesis 1)
Seven swans a-swimming — The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12-14, Isaiah 11: 2-3)
Eight maids a-milking — The Eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3-12)
Nine ladies dancing — The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
Ten lords a-leaping — The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 2-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21, Matthew 22: 36-40)
Eleven pipers piping — The Eleven Faithful Disciples
Twelve drummers drumming — The Twelve Points of the Apostle’s Creed, The Twelve Tribes of Israel, The Twelve Days of Christmas

Regardless of the origin or meaning of the song, I strongly believe the interpretation is inspired by God and is useful in teaching our children today. As you sing this carol, rejoice in the True Reason for this glorious Christmas season.