12 Days of Christmas Explained: Spiritual Reflection and Poem

Lingering in the hope of Christmas on Christmastide

We are continuing to linger in the feast of Christmas with the 12 Days of Christmas Carol, in other words we are keeping Christmas together this year.

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. If this is your first time here catch the whole intro to this series here. Catch Part 2 here.

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)

Part 3: Days 9~12

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . nine ladies dancing

The nine ladies dancing symbolize the fruit of the Spirit. What grace that we don’t have be the ones who make this fruit grow. The work of the Spirit is one we can rest in. In another passage we also find that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us in ways we won’t understand this side of heaven. ⠀⠀

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:18, 22-25 NIV
A prayer:
Lord, help us join you in your rhythm of grace, may this year be the year that we walk and even dance in step with your Spirit. Holy Spirit, grow in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Amen!

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . ten lords a-leaping

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Exodus 20:3-8, 12-17 NIV

As a lord is meant to be an honorable and just man who upholds the law, so they were chosen to represent the 10 commandments in this song. Another great reminder as we begin the new year and examine our motives and choices. We can come back to these concrete commandments for guidance and hope, He shows love to a thousand generation for those who love him.

A practice

List out the 10 commandments in your own handwriting and take a prayer walk in which you ask the Lord to examine your ways give you clarity as you live out these commandments in your life.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . eleven pipers piping

““He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

— ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15, 19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The 11 pipers represent the faithful disciples of Christ. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Younger, Simon, and Judas Thaddeus. These 11 disciples proclaimed the gospel as they had been sent by Jesus to do.

A prayer

Spend time reading John 17 as you read the words Jesus prayed over his disciples, mark the times when he prays ahead in the future for us. Meditate on his words and write down at least one verse to take with you today.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . twelve drummers drumming

“I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Catholic means universal church of all times and all places”

— The Apostles Creed

The twelfth day of Christmas is a reminder of the Apostles Creed. The drummers point to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed.

A practice

Spend time reading the Apostles Creed. This is the year I am working on committing it to memory. Maybe that is something you want to consider as well. Either way, write it out on a card and put it somewhere you can see it daily.

The 12 Days of Christmas

the last verses of a poem I wrote inspired by this song

“Like the crescendo of nine ladies dancing grows
Because the music is swelling with rhythm
So will the nine fruit of the spirit grow in us
As the Holy Spirit’s presence swells in us
Growing us to become more like Jesus

Like the honor due to the ten lords a leaping
As they honorably keep at the law and help others do as well
The ten commandments are available to help us keep his law
Through the power of the Spirit we can be guided by them
Helping us to obey in love the commands of God

Like the ten pipers piping share their song
the eleven faithful apostles shared until the 12th was chosen
They began in Judea but soon persecution scattered to Samaria
As the church and their boldness grew the Gospel spread more
Thankfully it reached the ends of the world it came to me too

As twelve drummers drumming march in unity
the twelve points of the Apostle’s Creed bring us unity
We believe in God the Father and in his Son and the power of the Holy Spirit in his conception
We believe in Jesus suffering, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and soon return
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church-the communion of saints, grateful for the forgiveness of sin and look forward to the resurrection of our bodies to life everlasting

A love poem made song
A love gift in each verse
A reminder that his truth can’t be thwarted
His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven
His will includes delight, He delights over you with song”

— 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 reflections. 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,