The traditional Advent calendar consisted of 25 days. Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming”) is a season in the Christian church of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, in other words, the period immediately preceding Christmas.
So what was the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ and where did it come from? Celebrated since medieval times, the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ traditionally began the day after Christmas Day and ended with Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night was the day that all decorations were to be removed because it was thought that leaving the decorations up would cause a disaster.
The ’12 days of Christmas’ were filled with merry-making, dancing, and continuous feasting. During this time, people would visit their neighbors, sharing and enjoying the traditional minced pie and other Christmas foods. Traditionally a Yule log was kept alight for these 12 days and was considered a bad omen if it went out before time!
The 12 days was a most welcome break for the workers on the land, which long ago was the majority of the people. All work, except for looking after the animals, stopped for those days. The first Monday following the 12th day was called Plough Monday, because it was the time the farm workers were expected to return to the fields.
There is debate as to the meaning of the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” which became popular at the Twelfth Night parties that took place to end the Christmas season. A popular theory states that the song dates back to the time when Roman Catholics were not permitted to practice their faith openly (1558 until 1829). The song was written as a way of teaching young Catholics and had a hidden meaning known only to their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember:
The ‘true love’ of the song refers to God.
‘A partridge in a pear’ tree was Jesus Christ.
‘Two turtle doves’ were the Old and New Testaments.
‘Three French hens’ stood for faith, hope, and love.
‘Four calling birds’ (actually the birds were colley birds or blackbirds) were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
‘Five golden rings’ recalled the Torah or law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
‘Six geese a laying’ stood for the six days of creation.
‘Seven swans a swimming’ represented the seven gifts of the Spirit which are the motivational gifts of prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, administration, and mercy found in Romans 12:3-8.
‘Eight maids a milking’ were the eight beatitudes of Matthew 5.
‘Nine ladies dancing’ were the nine fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, and self control found in Galatians.
‘Ten lords a leaping’ were the ten commandments.
‘Eleven pipers piping’ stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
‘Twelve drummers drumming’ symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostle’s Creed.
Who would have thought that singing The Twelve Days of Christmas could be such a teaching aid to remind us of the coming of Christ!!
As much as modern day marketing may think they are removing the memory of Jesus, He is so woven into the fabric of the season and our existence that they are up against an impossible task. It is the Christmas season and He is the reason for it and this is ‘His Story’. Jesus is in the lights…the candies…the carols…the gifts…the trees…the mistletoe…the tinsel.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen
