12 Days of Christmas to Christ

LDS Living Magazine ^ | December 6, 2012 | Erin Jones

[greyfoxx39]

Four calling birds? A partridge in a pear tree? No one is sure exactly what the twelve gifts in the “The Twelve Days of Christmas” represent, but there have been several theories. One interesting claim is that the song was written to help young Catholics learn their faith. In this interpretation, each Christmas gift represents something connected to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Looking at the song this way helps families focus on the true meaning of Christmas. We've taken this tradition and added a little bit of an LDS spin to it.

On each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas, you and your family can take a closer look at each of the Christmas gifts from the song. Use the following interpretations and lesson ideas as a jumping off point for relating the twelve gifts to Christ:

A partridge in a pear tree: The partridge could represent Jesus, who said He would shelter his chicks under his wings, similar to what a mother partridge does (see Luke 13:34). Tell family members to make a

list of Jesus’s qualities and personality traits (compassionate, forgiving, powerful, etc.). Adults and older children can find scriptures in the topical guide that correspond with each of these characteristics.

Two turtle doves: These have been thought to represent the Old and New Testaments, but they could also represent the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Talk with your family about how all scripture works together to testify of Christ. Have each family member find a scripture in each of the standard works that testifies of Christ.

Three French hens: These can represent the three kings bearing gifts, or they could stand for the three Christlike attributes of faith, hope, and charity. Read 1 Corinthians 13:13 and Moroni 10:20-23. Set goals of what you could do as a family or as individuals to better develop one of these attributes.

Four calling birds: These represent the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), because each of these disciples call out to the world through their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Look up “Gospels” in the Bible Dictionary; look at the chart that depicts harmony in the gospels and notice how several of these four men testified of some of the same events from Christ’s life. Talk about the principle of having more than one witness, found in 2 Corinthians 13:1 and Ether 5:4.

Five golden rings: These symbolize the first five books of the Old Testament (known in some religions as the Torah or the Pentateuch). Talk about how Christ led Moses and the children of Israel to the promised land and especially discuss the many miracles that happened along the way. Discuss other miracles that Christ performed and look up corresponding scriptures. You can also talk about miracles you have experienced in your own lives.

Six geese a-laying: These stand for the six days it took Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to create the Earth. Read the account in Genesis 1. Have younger children draw pictures of the creation.

Seven swans a-swimming: These represent the seven gifts of the spirit, although in LDS tradition there are many more than seven. Make a list of spiritual gifts from Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-33, 1 Corinthians 12:1-12, and Moroni 10:8-18. Try to identify strengths you have and how you can improve upon them.

Eight maids a-milking: These stand for the eight Beatitudes, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 5 and 3 Nephi 12. Have family members make up skits to demonstrate one of the Beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing: These represent the nine fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22. On a piece of paper folded in the middle, write on one side family members’ ideas of how they feel when the Spirit is present, and on the other side how they feel when the Spirit is not present. Discuss what you could do as a family to have the Spirit dwell in your home.

Ten lords a-leaping: These signify the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20 and Mosiah 12-13. Discuss each commandment or draw a picture to represent each one. Have each family member share an experience in which they chose to follow one of the commandments even though it may not have been the easiest choice.

Eleven pipers piping: These symbolize the eleven faithful apostles in Christ’s original church. See if you can name all of them. Talk about who these men were before they were called as apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen; Matthew was a tax collector. Why did Christ call men from such humble circumstances? How did these men learn and grow through their experiences with Christ?

Twelve drummers drumming: In the original Catholic version, the twelve drummers represent the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed (an early statement of belief accepted by the Catholic Church). For an LDS take, they can represent the twelve living apostles in Christ’s restored church. Look up information about the apostles and prophets on lds.org. Create an apostle memory matching game by making fifteen cards with the apostles’ pictures and fifteen cards with their names; children must match the faces with the names.

[Colofornian]

8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes

Again, there are 9 "blessed are the..." in Matthew 5:3-11...

[Colofornian]

9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Getting technical here, but in this NT passage "fruit" is not plural, but singular ("fruit")...

We could say that the ONE Holy Spirit emits nine dimensions (fruit)...

[svcw]

There is nothing that mormonism does not eventually distort.

[Salvation]

The Beatitudes^*

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,^*

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^a

4^* Blessed are they who mourn,^b

for they will be comforted.

5^* Blessed are the meek,^c

for they will inherit the land.

6Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,^*

for they will be satisfied.

7Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.^d

8^* Blessed are the clean of heart,^e

for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,^*

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^f

[svcw]

A day set aside to celebrate the birth of the Christ child is not an abomination.

The day was chosen to be near the pagan celebrations as it was to give Christians a place to celebrate.

All of the people I know who spout your anger, are ones that dislike buying presents and nothing more (but couch it in something else to sound pius).

[svcw]

Religious historians say:

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Recently groups like Snopes.com have tried to debunk the information below. This story has been told for a long time, anecdotally. Therefore, it is to be taken as historical, not theological. We do not know for certain that Roman Catholics at the time of their persecution in England used the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as a type of catechism, but we do know for a long time it was believed that they did.

The Meaning Behind The Song

The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days between Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany, Jan. 6th, the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the light of the world.
The Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” may sound silly and contrived to many of us. But it actually had its origins in religious symbolism - and with a serious purpose.
It dates from a time of religious persecution. The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” was written as a kind of secret catechism that could sing in public without fear of arrest - a learning or memory aid to Christians in fact.
The song can be taken at two levels of interpretation - the surface meaning, or the hidden meaning known only to the Christians involved. Each element is a code word for a religious truth.

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

pssst Really glad you got your information of the ‘myth’ from snopes (liberal) or was it history debunked (anti-Christian) sites.

The song has been around since 1780, it would have been better for you to say “no one really knows the meaning’.

[Tennessee Nana]

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

U bad...

[Colofornian]

You forgot verse 11:

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

The way many Bibles are formatted, they have not included v. 11 in verse format...

But the original Greek knows of no such formatting.

[Tennessee Nana]

7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
_______________________________________

or the Seven Stations of the Cross

[Tennessee Nana]

WOW

are you going to say that to the pagan Mormons ???

[RBStealth]

1 Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments, two natures of Christ
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues, the Trinity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

[Tennessee Nana]

Well Mary the older sister of Elizabeth was a Catholic and queen for just 5 years 1553-1558 and managed to murder at least 300 Protestants, many by fire..

[RBStealth]

I’ve read everything on this song.
Took note of your message but didnt read it.
Good luck

[Tennessee Nana]

For an LDS take, they can represent the twelve living apostles in Christ’s restored church.”
_________________________________________________

and what about John the Baptist and the three ???ite children still living underground in the North Pole ???

should they get an honorable mention and a verse of their own ???

[Salvation]

Aren’t there 14 Stations of the Cross?

[Salvation]

11Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.g

I thought I got it, but I guess I didn’t.

[Tennessee Nana]

8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes

Again, there are 9 “blessed are the...” in Matthew 5:3-11...
____________________________________________

but only 8 are recognized...

the Huguenot cross...(Protestant)...from the 1600s..known as the Cross of Languedoc..has 8 Beatitudes represented...

“The insignia consists of an open four-petal Lily of France — reminiscent of the Mother Country of France — in which each petal radiates outward in the shape of a “V” to form a Maltese Cross. The four petals signify the Four Gospels. Each petal, or arm, has at its outside periphery two rounded points at the corners. These rounded points are regarded as signifying the Eight Beatitudes.”

and further...

“The four petals are joined together by four fleur-de-lis, also reminiscent of the Mother Country of France. Each fleur-de-lis has has three petals. The twelve petals of the four fleur-de-lis signify the Twelve Apostles.”

[Tennessee Nana]

are there ???

probably

for some reason I thought 7

could be 14

sorry

[Tennessee Nana]

Yeaaaaaaa

youre here at last !!!

Hey hey !!!

Im tanned and rested and ready to beat up on the po lil victims/mormons boys..

you continue to beat up on the LORD Jesus Christ who is God and ever has been..

The Holy Three in One..

and I’ll beat up on your sorry pagan beliefs...

and we’ll see who whines like a girl first

:)