Which are the twelve days of Christmas?

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Which are the twelve days of Christmas?

For many across the United Kingdom, Christmas season begins on December 1, with revellers ready for the festival season decorating trees around their home and garden. One carol bound to be heard in households around the country is the twelve days of Christmas. Renowned for sticking in people’s heads once played and for challenging memories of one and all, the song shares its title with a period of Christian celebration of the twelve days of Christmas.

If you’re stumped over which day is which and are curious about what they mean, read on for everything you need to know.

A song for the season

The popular carol, the Twelve Days of Christmas is sung from the point of view of someone receiving a wondrous selection of gifts from their “true love”. Each verse in turn builds on the last, adding yet another number of gifts. The full list of presents is:

“A partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens, four calling birds, five gold 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.”

Over the centuries, the lyrics to the song have changed, including elements uncommon in our world today such as “bears a-baiting”. The four calling birds mentioned in one of the verses sung with a modern rendition were originally “colly birds”. Colly meant “as coal”, indicating the four birds were blackbirds. The author of this change and the man who set the lyrics and melody we know today was Frederic Austin. An English composer, Austin crafted his version in 1909 including the drawn-out annunciation of five gold rings, which he added as a personal flourish.

Some have insisted in the past that the carol was crafted to help Christians remember the important elements of the religion. In this theory, the two turtle doves representing the new and old testaments and three French hens symbolising the Christian virtues of charity, hope and faith. The partridge in the pear tree depicts Jesus on the cross.

Research shows that this is unlikely, as while the numbers represent quantities in the Christian faith, the gifts do not indicate the religion at all. The song is thought to be possibly French in origin and a kind of singing game that challenged players memories when reciting each verse. Failure to remember a line would typically result in a forfeit, with the loser offering a favour or kiss to an opponent.

A countdown from Christmas

The twelve days of Christmas, also referred to as Twelvetide, commence on Christmas Day preceded by four weeks known as the Advent. The Christian celebration is designed to honour the period between the birth of Jesus and the coming of the three wise men (or Maji), along with honouring key figures in the faith.

The first day of Christmas

The first of the twelve, Christmas Day, is the beginning of Twelvetide and starts with a celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth.

The second day of Christmas

Known here in the United Kingdom as Boxing Day, around the world the second day of Christmas is also known as St Stephen’s Day. It honours St Stephen, a Christian martyr. Sometimes this day is known as the Feast Day of St. Stephen, mentioned in the well-known Christmas carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’.

The third day of Christmas

The third day celebrates the author of the Bible’s book of Revelation, St. John the Apostle. St. John is and the patron saint for love, friendships and loyalty as well as authors.

The fourth day of Christmas

The fourth day of the festival is named the Feast of the Holy Innocents. It commemorates the loss of every baby boy killed in King Herod’s hunt for Jesus Christ when he was a baby.

The fifth day of Christmas

The Archbishop of Canterbury for the 12th Century, St. Thomas Becket is honoured on the fifth day of Christmas. He was murdered on December 29, in the year 1170, by followers of Henry II King of England because he challenged the authority of the crown over the church. Pope Alexander III later canonised him.

The sixth day of Christmas

The sixth day commemorates another Christian saint, St. Egwin of Worcester. Known as a protector of widows and orphans, he died on this day, December 30, in the year 717.

The seventh day of Christmas

In many parts of Eastern Europe, this seventh day of Christmas is called Silvester. Falling on New Year’s Eve, Pope Sylvester I, born in Rome, Italy is remembered.

The eighth day of Christmas

Coinciding with New Year’s Day, the eighth day of Christmas is devoted to the Mother of Jesus Christ, Mary.

The ninth day of Christmas

The ninth day of the Christian festival honours two saints at once, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil the Great. Both saints were of great importance to Christians during the 4th Century.

The tenth day of Christmas

The tenth day is also known as the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. The feast marks the day that Jesus Christ was named at the Jewish Temple.

The eleventh day of Christmas

The first American saint is celebrated on the eleventh day of Christmas, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, but the day also honours St Simeon Stylites with a feast. St Simeon notably lived for 37 years atop a pillar on a small platform.

The twelfth day of Christmas

Also called Epiphany Eve, this day ends the twelve days of Christmas, leading to the Epiphany on January 6. The Epiphany celebrates the Maji giving gifts to baby Jesus but also the recognition that Jesus Christ is the Christian God incarnate. This day is sometimes referred to as Three Kings Day.

Whether you’re observing important dates in the Christian calendar or enjoying singing songs with family and friends this season, the twelve days of Christmas are sure to feature. Whatever way you decide to celebrate Christmas, the next time someone is curious about the twelve days and quizzes you, you’ll now be well versed and ready to answer.

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