The term “12 days of Christmas” marks the days between December 25th (Christmas) and January 6th (Epiphany). It is thought to have originated around 1300. However, various traditions have sprung up from the celebration of these days. Each day became known for a specific event in the life of Christ (for example, January 1st was termed the circumcision of Christ because it was the 8th day) and others for specific saints (for example, December 26th was St. Stephen’s Day in representation of the first martyr Stephen [Ac 7:54-60] and is celebrated as Boxing Day in the UK). The term epiphany comes from the Latin root epiphania meaning “to appear” and was applied to Jesus Christ. The Eastern Orthodox would celebrate this “appearing” as the baptism of Jesus whereas the Western Catholic Church celebrates the visitation of the Magi and would read from Isaiah and Matthew (Is 60:1-6; Mt 2:1-12). The night of January 5th became known as Twelfth Night which Shakespeare made popular with his play of the same name. This was the main night that wassail was drunk and plum pudding eaten. In colonial America, a wreath was placed on the front door during the Christmas season and was removed on Twelfth Night. It became the custom to not leave Christmas decorations up past Twelfth Night. However, some countries still leave decorations up until Candlemas (February 2nd, representing the visit of Christ to the temple with twelve years of age).

In Catholic-centric areas, Twelfth Night was also a time of revelry where a “king cake” is eaten and the one getting a piece with a bean and pea become king and queen of the night overseeing the festivities. In the US, this has become morphed into mardi gras in New Orleans and celebration by mummers in parades.

The song Twelve Days of Christmas is noted as a British carol but may have been originally French in origin. Although there are various adaptations, here is the traditional version: The twelfth day of Christmas, | My true love sent to me | Twelve lords a-leaping, | Eleven pipers piping, | Ten ladies dancing, | Nine drummers drumming, | Eight maids a-milking, | Seven swans a-swimming, | Six geese a-laying, | Five gold rings, | Four colly birds, | Three French hens, | Two turtle doves, and | A partridge in a pear tree. There is no way today to know what the meaning of these verses was originally. However, it has become an extremely popular, and fun, Christmas song to sing. Although it seems to have been debunked, it was stated at one time that each verse had a hidden religious meaning and was used as a catechism to help teach their faith. It seems that Catholicism was criminalized in England from around 1558 until 1829. A partridge in a pear tree: Jesus; two turtle doves: The Old and New Testaments; three French hens: The three Biblical magi; four calling birds: The four Gospels; five gold rings: The Torah or Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament; six geese a-laying: The six days of Creation; seven swans a-swimming: Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; eight maids a-milking: The eight Beatitudes; nine ladies dancing: Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; ten lords a-leaping: The Ten Commandments; eleven pipers piping: the eleven faithful Apostles; twelve drummers drumming: The twelve points of the Apostles' Creed. However, there is nothing of these decodes that distinguishes Protestant belief from Catholic belief so it would seem no need to make this a secret code. Therefore, all the more reason for this to be a legend. However, it is a simple way for people to better understand, and remember, Biblical truths.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens