The 12 days of Christmas

Merry Christmas! I know as some of you are reading this you may think, “Christmas is over.”

However, the season of Christmas in the Christian calendar runs from Christmas Day, Dec. 25 to Epiphany, Jan. 6. That is 12 days, which gives us the 12 days of Christmas. A fun song, but it is more than a song. The 12 days of Christmas is a lesson.

Hear the meaning of each day and think about the gifts again.

A partridge in the pear tree is Christ on the cross to set us each free.

Two turtle doves is the two halves of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments.

Three French Hens are the Theological Virtues — Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity)

Four Calling Birds are the four Gospels

Five Golden Rings are the “Pentateuch” or first five books of the Bible that tell the history of

humanity’s fall from grace

Six Geese a-laying are the six days of creation (God rested on the seventh)

Seven Swans a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit or the seven sacraments in the Catholic

Church

Eight Maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount

Nine Ladies Dancing the nine fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience. kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)

10 Lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments

11 Pipers Ping are the 11 faithful apostles

12 Drummers drumming are the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed

Listen to the song again and realize that the true love is God giving each of us these gifts. What will you do with them?

Be bold, be strong.