Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The Allegorical Twelve Days of Christmas





“On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.”

We all know the song.  But what are the “Twelve Days of Christmas”  on the calendar?

The Twelve Days are a very old celebration of Christmas. They are far older than the song cited above, which was first written in Elizabethan England. The Twelve days cover the gap between Christmas Day and Epiphany


       “On the first day of Christmas

My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.”

We all know the song. It’s quite long. Our eyes usually glaze over before it wraps up with the “partridge in a pear tree.”

What are the “Twelve Days of Christmas” anyway? Where are they on the calendar?

The Twelve Days are a very old celebration of Christmas. They are far older than the song cited above, which was first written in Elizabethan England. The Twelve days cover the gap between Christmas Day and Epiphany.

A 15th-century illuminated manuscript showing the Adoration of the Magi

Many people think that the “Twelve Days of Christmas” are the days leading up to Christmas, with Christmas being the twelfth day and grand finale. Christmas, however, is the beginning of the twelve day celebration, which continues through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.


"The Twelve Days of Christmas" Song is a classic  allegorical Christmas carol,, where the lyrics detail a series of increasingly numerous gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas, the twelve days that make up the Christmas season, starting with Christmas Day.  Lyrics appear  below:





The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ. 

 Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments. 

Three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love. 

The four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. 

The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation. 

Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. 

The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. 

The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments. 

The eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples. 

The twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. - source of allegory anon.



The Nativity Scene 



Search Results

Main Results

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to meA partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to meTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to meThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meFour calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to meSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meEight maids a-milkingSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meNine ladies dancingEight maids a-milkingSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meTen lords a-leapingNine ladies dancingEight maids a-milkingSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to meI sent eleven pipers pipingTen lords a-leapingNine ladies dancingEight maids a-milkingSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meTwelve drummers drummingEleven pipers pipingTen lords a-leapingNine ladies dancingEight maids a-milkingSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-layingFive gold rings (five golden rings)Four calling birdsThree French hensTwo turtledovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree

Composer: Federic Sustin 


No comments: