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The Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas
You're all familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I think. To most it's a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written.
It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts.
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law - private OR public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith - a memory aid, when to be caught with anything in *writing* indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you imprisoned, it could get you hanged, or shortened by a head - or hanged, drawn and quartered, a rather peculiar and ghastly punishment I'm not aware was ever practiced anywhere else. Hanging, drawing and quartering involved hanging a person by the neck until they had almost, but not quite, suffocated to death; then the party was taken down from the gallows, and disembowelled while still alive; and while the entrails were still lying on the street, where the executioners stomped all over them, the victim was tied to four large farm horses, and literally torn into five parts - one to each limb and the remaining torso.
The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."
The other symbols mean the following:
1 Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ, Son of God
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
More Advent & Christmas
Advent & Christmas 2022
Begins Sunday, November 27, 2022
Ends on Saturday, December 24, 2022
"And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'"
Christ the King
Sunday, November 20, 2022
Christ the King Day is a Catholic celebration that takes place on the last Sunday of the liturgical year in the Catholic faith. continue reading
Advent 2022 starts on Sunday, November 27, 2022
Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas every year.Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
[holy day of obligation]
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, ... continue reading
Advent 2022 ends on Saturday, December 24, 2022
Advent ends on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, every year.Christmas
Birth of Our Lord Jesus
[holy day of obligation]
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. continue reading
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
[holy day of obligation]
Sunday, January 1, 2023
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ. continue reading
Epiphany
Friday, January 6, 2023
The Epiphany signifies the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus. continue reading
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Advent Reflections
Reflection for every day of Advent
Advent is a period of waiting, like Lent. We are called to obtain the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to pray and fast, as we await the arrival of our ... continue reading
Advent Calendar
Every day of Advent
An Advent calendar has become a tradition for many families when celebrating Advent and the Christmas season. continue reading
Advent Candle
24 Days of December
An Advent candle is a neat way to mark off the days until Christmas. Such candles are commonly found in churches and sometimes in homes. continue reading
Advent Wreath
Each Sunday of Advent
The wreath's symbolism of the advent (coming) of Light into the world is clear. The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the ... continue reading
Advent & Christmas Classes
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Advent & Christmas PDFs
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Free Advent & Christmas PDFs for anyone, anywhere; Use in your Parish Church - School - Bulletin Inserts. continue reading
Christmas Gifts
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Make This Christmas Special with Gifts from Catholic Online Shopping. continue reading
Nativity Scene
Holy Family
The Nativity Scene is a meaningful expression for our religious faith. With it, we provide a captivating visual focus during the Christmas season. continue reading
St. Nicholas
December 6th
The true story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas. continue reading
Advent? What is it all about

The Christmas Story

Advent Daily Readings

The Holy Grail of Learning: How Catholic Values Transform Education
You can make it possible for more students to come into a deeper understanding of the Lord and the Catholic faith. Our 7,000 video lessons are FREE for learners and teachers around the world, and we intend to keep it that way. But it takes millions of dollars to produce high-quality content.More Advent & Christmas
The Christmas Gift: Because Jesus is Born, We Can Be Born Again Watch

On the day called Christ-Mass, the whole world pauses - at a manger, a crib, a creche. The Nativity of the Lord touches every man, ... continue reading
Love is Born on Christmas Morn, and the World is Born Anew Watch

The Gospel passages proclaimed at the Vigil and the Midnight Mass of Christmas root the Nativity of the Lord, in the family history and ... continue reading
5 Ways to keep Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year

Christmas is a magical time of year when decorations line the streets, children are suddenly behaving and the Post Office struggles to keep ... continue reading
Advent Reflection - Day 25 - The Fourth Wednesday of Advent Watch

Advent Reflection - Day 25 - The Fourth Wednesday of Advent Within Mary's womb, our Savior stirs. The moment is near! The Holy Family turns ... continue reading
How to Handle Christmas Stress Watch

Christmas is a season full of joy and happiness. Families gather and spend special, meaningful time together. This should be a time where ... continue reading
Reaching Out: 7 Steps to a Blessed Christmas

Sending singing carols, sending Christmas cards, giving gifts...It's all tradition and fun, but perhaps this is a wonderful time to really ... continue reading
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