People often wonder when the 12 days of Christmas really begin and end. Years ago Christmas started at sunset on 24th December. This was thought to be Christmas Evening (Christmas Eve) and Christmas would continue until nightfall on 25th December which started St Stephen’s Day, the first of the 12 days of Christmas. Thus, the 12th night after Christmas would have been the evening before 6th January, the 12th and final day of the Christmas season.
Confused? The actual date has caused much confusion over th years because understanding of the words eve and night are different from what our ancient ancestors thought them to be. So the 12 days are the last six days of December and the first six days of January. But the 12 nights are the last seven nights of December and the first five nights of January.
Christmas decorations should be taken down on the evening of 5th January, ready for the arrival of the Wise Men on 6th January, the Feast of the Epiphany. Any Christmas decorations not taken down by the 12th night should stay up until Candlemas on 2nd February.
There is great debate as to the meaning of the carol ‘The 12 days of Christmas ‘ too. Some people think that the song dates back to the time when Roman Catholics were not allowed to practice their faith openly(1558 until 1829). The song was written as a way of teaching young Roman Catholics and had two levels of meaning, the hidden meaning known only to their church. Each part of the carol has a code word for a religious teaching, which the children could remember.
The true love of the song refers to God
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ
The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testament
The three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four colley birds were the four gospels
The five gold rights recalled the Torah or law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation
The seven swans a-swimming represented the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: serving / teaching / exhortation / contribution / leadership / mercy
The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes
The nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love / joy / peace / patience / kindness / goodness / faithfulness / gentleness / self0control
The ten lords a-leaping were the 10- co0mmandments
The eleven pipers piping stood for the 11 faithful disciples
The twelve drummers drumming symbolised the 12 points of belief in the Apostle’s creed
From Families First, the magazine of the Mothers Union,
submitted by Inigo Woolf
The 12 days of Christmas