Dec. 16, 2018         Twelve Days of Christmas                                

Usually, when there is a Sunday School Program, I skip the sermon, but on this Sunday, I thought we could have a little Christmas fun, and tell you the story of the song, 12 days of Christmas.

It is said, that back in the days when Catholics and Protestants were persecuted by the Church of England that they used this song as a kind of catechism of their faith. Such that for each part of the song, their children could memorize and recite part of their Christian tradition.

Now I realize that this story is probably not true, but it does provide a teaching tool, and as I said before, it’s kind fun. And it wouldn’t be the first time that Christianity took over a secular song or pagan celebration for this purpose. So what are the supposed meanings behind the lines of the song? Well,…..

Partridge in a pear tree – Christ on the Cross for our salvation.

2 Turtle Doves: Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens:  Faith, Hope, Charity the Theological virtues, Trinity

4 Calling Birds: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

5 Golden Rings: the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

6 Geese a laying: the six days of creation

7. Swans a swimming: the seven sacraments of the church. Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Annointing, Marriage, Ordination.  

8. Maids a milking: the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing, the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, charity, and self-control.

10 Lords a Leaping: the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping: the eleven faithful apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the younger, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James. From luke 6

12 Drummers Drumming: the 12 faith statements that make up the Apostle’s Creed

       And so, the next time you sing that song, you might try to remember what each of the lines could represent, as a kind of catechism for yourself.