Most people are familiar with the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song. It has now been parodied into a thousand wacky renditions. There’s a plethora of versions on YouTube—some very off-beat stuff.
Some historians think that the song originated in England at a time in which the Church of England prevented Roman Catholics from publishing or circulating church literature. They postulate that the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, with the silly gifts for each of the twelve days spanning from Christmas to Epiphany, was developed as a clandestine tool for teaching Catholic children the basis of Christian faith. The idea is that each day’s gift represents some tenet of the catechism, as you’ll see in following days. As such, it would have been a device to help children memorize important points of doctrine.
Other historians agree that, indeed, there was a song that used the twelve days of Christmas as a teaching tool for Christian faith, but it’s not the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song. Rather, the song of the period from which the Christian teaching elements corresponding to the 12 days of Christmas more likely comes is titled “A New Dial.”
I’ll leave it to historians to duke it out over which song. You can read all about this debate at www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp. Whichever song it was, these facts remain.
(1) The twelve days of Christmas--from December 25 to January 5--were for centuries the prevailing way the holiday and season was celebrated; it still is in some regions. This is, technically, the season of Christmas. The four weeks before December 25 is Advent and what follows, on January 6, is Epiphany.
(2) There was a song that creatively used each of the twelve days of Christmas to highlight and reflect on an aspect of Christian faith. It is those points of faith that I will reflect on each day during this journey to Epiphany.
And (3) we have opportunity today to explore this tradition and these points of faith as a way to shine light for our own journeys into the heart of winter.
So, the celebration and journey begins tomorrow—on Christmas Day. I hope your preparations for the holiday have brought you to a point of readiness to receive the precious gifts God has in store through the revelation of the Word made flesh. May your Christmas Eve transition you from frolicking to worshiping and celebrating with joy.
Other historians agree that, indeed, there was a song that used the twelve days of Christmas as a teaching tool for Christian faith, but it’s not the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song. Rather, the song of the period from which the Christian teaching elements corresponding to the 12 days of Christmas more likely comes is titled “A New Dial.”
I’ll leave it to historians to duke it out over which song. You can read all about this debate at www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp. Whichever song it was, these facts remain.
(1) The twelve days of Christmas--from December 25 to January 5--were for centuries the prevailing way the holiday and season was celebrated; it still is in some regions. This is, technically, the season of Christmas. The four weeks before December 25 is Advent and what follows, on January 6, is Epiphany.
(2) There was a song that creatively used each of the twelve days of Christmas to highlight and reflect on an aspect of Christian faith. It is those points of faith that I will reflect on each day during this journey to Epiphany.
And (3) we have opportunity today to explore this tradition and these points of faith as a way to shine light for our own journeys into the heart of winter.
So, the celebration and journey begins tomorrow—on Christmas Day. I hope your preparations for the holiday have brought you to a point of readiness to receive the precious gifts God has in store through the revelation of the Word made flesh. May your Christmas Eve transition you from frolicking to worshiping and celebrating with joy.
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