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| Christmas Carnivals » Christmas History » Twelve days of Christmas Song history |
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Twelve days of Christmas Song history |
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Twelve day of Christmas Song history interprets the origin and popularity of a French song entitled ‘Twelve days of Christmas’. Actually it was a catechism song containing surreptitious codes. During the mid 16C to the early 17thC Catholics were forbidden to practice their faith. The song was composed to confer the basic tenets of Christianity to the Catholic infants.
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The twelve days are the days between the birth of Christ (Christmas, December 25) and the coming of the Magi (Epiphany, January 6). It began as a Twelfth Night "memory and forfeits" game in which the leader recited a verse and his followers repeated the same. The player who erred had to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet.
In the twelve days twelve gifts are presented by “my true love”. True Love indicates God. The gifts offered respectively on the 12 days had specific connotations.
1st day- A Partridge in a Pear Tree symbolized Jesus Christ.
2nd day- Two Turtle doves signified Old and New Testaments.
3rd day- Three French hens signified Faith, Hope and Charity.
4th day - Four calling birds represented the four gospels or the four Evangelists.
5th day – Five gold rings referred to the first five books of the Old Testament.
6th day - Six Geese A-laying symbolized six days of creation.
7th day - Seven Swans A- swimming signified seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8th day - Eight Maids A- milking referred to the eight beatitudes.
9th day - Nine ladies dancing symbolized the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit.
10th day - Ten Lords A – leaping symbolized the Ten Commandments.
11th day - Eleven Pipers piping symbolized the eleven faithful apostles.
12th day - Twelve Drummers Drumming referred to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.
To learn more about Twelve days of Christmas song history go through the pages of Christmas Carnivals.
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