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News => General => Topic started by: Ina2k on December 25, 2013, 08:11:50 pm


Title: The Religious Symbolism Of The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Post by: Ina2k on December 25, 2013, 08:11:50 pm
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an
English Christmas carol that enumerates a
series of increasingly grand gifts given on
each of the twelve days of Christmasin the
manner of a cumulative song. The song,
first published in England in 1780 without
music as a chant or rhyme, is thought to
be French in origin. It has a Roud Folk
Song Indexnumber of 68. The tunes of
collected version vary. The standard tune
now associated with it is derived from a
1909 arrangement of the traditional folk
melody by English composer Frederic
Austin, who first introduced the now
familiar prolongation of the verse "five
gold rings".
When are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
The Twelve Days of Christmas start with
Christmas Day and ends with the eve of
Epiphany on January 5th. The Twelve Days
of Christmas dates back to English origins
in the sixteenth century although the
music is reputed to be French. The first
publication date for The Twelve Days of
Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) was
1780.
What is the religious symbolism of the 12
days of Christmas?
Here is one rendition on what the
religious symbolism is for the Twelve Days
of Christmas:
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New
Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and
Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels
and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five
Books of the Old Testament, the
"Pentateuch", which gives the history of
man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of
creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven
sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight
beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits
of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten
commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven
faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the
twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's
Creed
Source: http://www.carols.org.uk/
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/
The_Twelve_Days_of_ Christmas_ (song)