Belinda Beresford
At first hearing usually being sung by squeaky pre-pubescent voices The 12 Days of Christmas is a collection of nonsense phrases designed to test the memory.
But like many nursery rhymes the song has a grimmer history. It was forged in the fires of the British Reformation, when the Church of England, created by Henry VIII so he could get a divorce, was battling with the Catholic Church for the hearts and minds of the people. When Protestant Elizabeth followed her fanatically Catholic half-sister to the throne, the newer church gained the upper hand. The Catholic Church became repressed and was forced underground.
Possibly created by Jesuit priests who were very active in the underground church movement, The 12 Days of Christmas was a subversive song designed to teach children the 12 points of the catechism.
The partridge in the pear tree referred to the crucified Christ, while the two turtle doves were the old and new testaments.
The three French hens were the three gifts of the Holy Spirit faith, hope and love while the four calling birds referred to the four gospels.
The five gold rings were the first five books of the old Testament, and the six geese referred to the six days of creation.
The seven swans were wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and the fear of the Lord. The eight maids were the eight beatitudes referred to in Luke and Matthew. The nine ladies were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, sinlessness and self-control.
The 10 lords referred to the 10 commandments, while the 11 pipers were the 11 faithful disciples, excluding Judas. Finally, the 12 dancers were the 12 points of the apostle’s creed.
The 12 days of Christmas run from the night of December 24 Christ’s birthday to the night before Epiphany (January 6), when the three wise men actually made it to the stable. Contrary to the tableaux portrayed in many nativity scenes, the wise men were late.