A Christ-Centered Christmas Doesn't Have to Be HardSýnishorn

The 12-Days of Christmas

It’s funny how children misinterpret the words to songs when they are young. (Sometimes adults do it too.) Until very recently, I thought that the Elton John song lyrics were put-put a penny in the chest until my husband heard me singing and started laughing hysterically. He said, “It’s not put a penny in the chest, silly. It’s Benny and the Jets.” Oops! (I still like my version better.)

One year, our four-year-old son, Ben, was practicing Christmas songs for his upcoming recital at preschool. One of the songs was “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

He began singing, “On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three French “hips,” two turtle doves, and a “pondridge” in a pear tree.”

The memory tickles me to this day. I guess you could say the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

Apparently, my son and I are not the only ones who misinterpret well-known song lyrics. As I was researching the history behind the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” I learned that the original lyric for the fourth day of Christmas was “colly” birds—not calling birds.

The term "colly" was Old English slang for blackbirds. The carol was written during a time when Roman Catholics were being persecuted for their beliefs and unable to practice their faith openly.

While the song’s bizarre gift exchange seems strange to our modern-day traditions, each gift held a deeper meaning. “My true love” represents God and the gifts symbolize different aspects of the Christian faith.

For example:

• A partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens represent faith, hope, and charity.
• Four calling birds represent the four gospels.
• Five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament.
• Six geese laying represent the six days of creation.
• Seven swans swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• Eight maids milking represent the eight beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits of the Spirit.
• Ten lords leaping represent the ten commandments.
• Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful apostles.
• Twelve drummers drumming represent the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.

Here is another interesting fact about the song. The “twelve days” do not reference the days leading up to Christmas. Rather, they represent the twelve days following Christmas, beginning with the birth of Christ (celebrated December 25th) and ending with the coming of the three wise men (celebrated January 6th), which is also called Epiphany or Three Kings Day.

The next time you hear this beloved tune, remember. It’s partridge—not pondridge. It’s French hens—not French hips. And… it’s sacred—not silly.

“Sing to the Lord a new song,

for he has done marvelous things;

his right hand and his holy arm

have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1).

Personal Reflection

• What are your favorite Christmas carols and why?
• The next time you hear your favorite Christmas tunes played, think about the lyrics and what they truly mean.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for the gift of music and for all of the songs that help me stay focused on the true meaning of this very special season. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.