The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas refer to the festive period starting on Christmas Day (December 25) and ending on the Twelfth Night (January 5), leading up to Epiphany (January 6). Each day has significance in Christian tradition, often marked by celebrations, feasts, and sometimes religious observances.
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  • Day 1 (December 25): Christmas Day - Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
    Day 2 (December 26): St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day in some cultures) - Honors St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
    Day 3 (December 27): Feast of St. John the Apostle.
    Day 4 (December 28): Feast of the Holy Innocents - Commemorates the children killed by King Herod.
    Day 5 (December 29): Feast of St. Thomas Becket, a martyr.
    Day 6 (December 30): Honors St. Egwin, an English bishop.
    Day 7 (December 31): New Year's Eve - St. Sylvester's Day in some traditions.
    Day 8 (January 1): Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Celebrates Mary's role in Jesus's life.
    Day 9 (January 2): Feast of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen.
    Day 10 (January 3): Honors the Holy Name of Jesus.
    Day 11 (January 4): Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (in the U.S.) or other saints, depending on tradition.
    Day 12 (January 5): Twelfth Night - Marks the end of Christmastide, often associated with revelry.

The Carol

The Twelve Days of Christmas are famously referenced in the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas", where a series of increasingly extravagant gifts are given on each day. The song is thought to have roots in European folklore and traditions. Each gift in the song is symbolic, with interpretations ranging from secular to religious.Each verse builds upon the previous one, with the gifts becoming more elaborate as the song progresses. It is often sung in a cumulative format, where each verse adds a new gift and repeats all the earlier ones in reverse order.
The exact origins of the song are unclear, but it was first published in 1780 in a children's book called Mirth Without Mischief as a memory-and-forfeit game. Some historians believe it originated as a French folk song. The melody most commonly associated with the carol today was composed by Englishman Frederic Austin in 1909.


Each verse starts with: "On the [first/second/third, etc.] day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..."
The gifts are:
-A Partridge in a Pear Tree
-Two Turtle Doves
-Three French Hens
-Four Calling Birds
-Five Golden Rings
-Six Geese a-Laying
-Seven Swans a-Swimming
-Eight Maids a-Milking
-Nine Ladies Dancing
-Ten Lords a-Leaping
-Eleven Pipers Piping
-Twelve Drummers Drumming

Some interpretations suggest that the gifts have symbolic meanings tied to Christian theology, such as:
-The "Partridge in a Pear Tree" representing Jesus Christ.
-The "Two Turtle Doves" symbolizing the Old and New Testaments.
-The "Five Golden Rings" representing the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible).
However, there is little historical evidence to confirm this religious connection, and the song is generally regarded as a festive and playful tune.

If you walk along the streets of London at Christmas, you may happen to find some clues hinting at the Twelve Days of Christmas. Here are a few snapshots that I've taken at the Duke of York Square in London: 

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Have a lovely Christmas!
Erica