’12 Days of Christmas’ brings more than gifts

’12 Days of Christmas’ brings more than gifts

“The 12 Days of Christmas.” It is one of the most popular songs of the season, but many Americans are confused about both what the song means and the event it observes.

Often the “12 days” are considered a prelude to Christmas Day. This pre-Christmas interpretation is sometimes used in the sense of “only 12 shopping days until. …”

In fact, the “12 Days of Christmas” do not precede Christmas Day, but rather follow it. The “12 Days of Christmas” begin with the celebration of Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25 — among Western Christians — and continue until Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany, or “manifestation” of Jesus to the Gentile world.

The last day is celebrated in recognition of the magi — the wise men or three kings — who followed the star to Bethlehem and brought gifts to the baby Jesus.

Their brief story — told in the first chapter of Matthew, and whom legend has named Melchior, Balthasar and Caspar — represents all people and races, for they came from “afar,” where people were not like the Levantine residents of Bethlehem.

When they came to worship and bring gifts to the newborn Jesus, they came amid the shepherds, who represented the people of Israel.

The carol “The 12 Days of Christmas” was created by the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. It was used to teach catechism to children during a time of persecution from 1558 to 1829 when Catholics in England were prohibited from practicing their faith — in private or in public.

Each phrase of the song was significant. For example, the partridge in a pear tree denotes Jesus as a mother partridge which feigns injury to keep predators from her young while the two turtledoves represent the Old and New Testaments.

Many Christians mark the end of the “12 Days of Christmas” with an Epiphany party, where people are invited to a feast to celebrate the arrival of the three wise men.

Often a small ceremony takes place in which a child — usually the youngest — reads the story of the magi.

Sometimes a father holds the child up to the top brace on the front door and the youngster, using chalk, signs the door with 20 M + B + C 04 to commemorate the year — in this instance, 2004 — and the first initials of the magi.

This reminds all in attendance that everyone is invited to follow the star of Jesus’ birth throughout the year. Placing the symbol on the door frame reminds the person to follow the star every time he leaves the house.

This tradition is widely practiced in many European countries and in parts of the United States.

The period before Christmas, Advent, is often observed as a period of quiet, repentance and anticipation of the incarnation, or God’s act of becoming human.

The “12 Days of Christmas” is a season to celebrate Jesus’ birth, the universality of His message and adhering to Christian precepts while following His star.

The symbolism of “The 12 Days of Christmas,” in addition to the partridge symbol of Jesus, also includes:

Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens are the three theological virtues — faith, hope and charity.

Four calling birds are the four Gospels, or the four evangelists.

Five golden rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Pentateuch.

Six geese a-laying are the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit or the seven sacraments of Catholic theology.

Eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping are the 11 faithful apostles.

Twelve drummers drumming are the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed. (RNS)