The 12 Days of Christmas: A Reflection on the True Meaning Part 1
12 Days of Christmas Explained: Spiritual Reflection and Poem
Lingering in the hope of Christmas on Christmastide
A few years ago I waded deep into the anticipation of advent and my soul though weary rejoiced in the Hope of Christ. Since then I have found my soul feeling it’s worth through advent causing me to linger in His light on Christmastide.Today, I am choosing to linger again, to look to the church calendar and fill that room prepared for Him, with His word, His hope, and prayer. To keep Christmas even if it’s just with one act of presence at a time. Maybe lighting a candle as you read or pray or make a sweet treat to celebrate.
We will keep Christmas-keep it as it is in all the loveliness of its ancient traditions. May we keep it in our hearts, that we may be kept in its hope.
Catherine Marshall
In the 12 Days of Christmas song I was surprised to find symbolism that encourages us as we linger in the gift of Christ embodied. I am intrigued by the history behind this song and by the meaning behind each of the gifts and how they point back to Jesus and his word.
When we read Church history we see that since its conception, the Church has experienced persecution, and the enemy’s goal has been to shut it down. But the Church of God stands and “the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” as Jesus said in Matthew 16.
The 12 days of Christmas, turns out to be a creative way of passing on the core teachings of the Bible during the religious wars in England. The religious wars in sixteenth century England made it dangerous to be a Catholic. Many people practiced their faith in secret. Although, it began as a veiled teaching by Catholic believers to their children in England it can also be a reminder to us of the core teachings of Christianity.
When is Christmastide?
Christmastide is the liturgical season that spans from the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (which we commonly call Christmas day, Dec. 25) to Epiphany Eve (Jan. 5, commonly called Twelfth Night)
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . a partridge in a pear tree.
This first one is about our True Love, Jesus Christ, who like a mother partridge was not afraid to give up his life so that we could be saved. The Partridge mother bird is known to fain injury and attract the predator to her so she can save her children.
The pear tree symbolizing the cross that our Lord would endure on our behalf and save us from our sins. Wow, a tiny picture with a huge meaning. We thank you Lord for your Love.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 ESV
A Prayer
Almighty God, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
—Taken from The Book Of Common Prayer
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . two turtledoves.
It may just be me but the turtledoves remind me of the Home Alone 2 movie, where Kevin gives a turtle dove ornament to the lady in the park as a sign of their friendship. He has one and she has one. He was told earlier in the movie how this signifies friendship that can last forever.
We have been given a friendship that endures. Jesus Christ came and gave his life for us his friends. He left us palpable gifts the Holy Spirit and his word. The Bible, the Word of God, is a gift that sometimes we take for granted. It is a truly exuberant gift from the Lord as well as His provision to make it now more accessible than ever to us. He also continues to provide for the work being done to bring it to those who do not have access to it yet.
The two turtle doves in the song represent the New and Old Testaments. In them, we find the complete story of the Judeo-Christian faith and God's plan of redemption for all mankind.
A practice
Write your favorite Old and New Testaments verses in a card and send it to a friend or family member.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . three french hens
On the third day the gift represent faith, hope, and love. I needed to remember that the giver of good gifts continues to bestow upon us these three gifts.
The verses below from 1 Corinthians is where we find a listing of the christian virtues represented by the three french hens. But the verse right before the list reminds us that although right now we can only know in part, we are still fully known, fully known by Him. We can trust in faith that He directs our steps, that even though so much uncertainty surrounds us we are being held by his faithfulness. We can live with hope for the future because His love has come to make a way for us to live with him forever, truly then these three remain faith, hope and love.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
As I look into Christmastide and how to keep Christmas and celebrate it, I find that there are tangible things we can to remind each other of the good gift giver and celebrate the 12 days of Christmas together.
A practice
For this one I am sharing some of the ideas from Dynamic Catholic because I just love them.
Try to create three Holy Moments: one for faith, one for hope, and one for charity.
Here are a few examples to get you started:
Faith Holy Moments: Spend time in prayer with this breath prayer Inhale: Jesus fill me with faith and hope, Exhale help me to live out love
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . four calling birds
The four calling birds represent the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The four gospels truly herald not just the life of Jesus but his love for us. One of my favorite chapters is John 17 where Jesus prayed for us, those who would believe in him. He prayed for us and he continues to intercede for us at the right hand of the father.
What good news we find in these gospels! This is my favorite verse from John.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 ESV
A practice
Spend time reading a gospel, I recommend you start with the book of John.
The 12 Days of Christmas
the first four verses of a poem a wrote inspired by this song
This love poem leads us straight to his heart
The partridge in the pear tree gives her life
Freely for her chicks safety
He on a tree did not withhold his life
But instead gave it up for us
Like two turtle doves representing the two testament of the Bible
In the beginning was the Word and the word became flesh
He not only spoke the galaxies into being
But drew near making his dwelling with us
His word is recorded for us bringing us peace and truth
As beautiful as three french hens
He give us faith, hope, and love three gifts ever new
Not only does He strengthen our faith
But He is the Hope of Glory so we put our hope in Him
The greatest of these is Love, and His love is everlasting
Like four calling birds the four gospels tell of the days you walked the earth
Matthew shows us you’re the Messiah awaited for generations
Mark lets us in to your years of ministry as he follows after you
Luke gives us an orderly account with glimpses into your childhood
John poetically reminds us of your deity from the beginning
…
-Daisy Fuentes Dronen
Notas
Research Resources: Dynamic Catholic 12 days of Christmas
12 Tide does a beautiful way of laying out how they celebrated the 12 days of Christmas
Enjoy my most favorite rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas to date!
I hope you enjoy reading through these first 4 stanzas of the 12 days of Christmas. My hope is that you are inspired as you look at beautiful art. That you are encouraged in your faith as you read about the symbolism of this song. Ultimately I hope to bring you with me into this sweet space of lingering as we keep Christmas together.
Gracefully,
What a perfect time to start honing your charcuterie skills! I have just the right thing to help you feel ready and confident while you gather. I created this simple and beautiful charcuterie guide for you. In my opinion it’s cute enough to show and then it would always be available for you! Plus, I am always honored to offer you practical content for purposeful and life giving time around the table.
