Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker
I have enjoyed singing and remembering the verses to this Christmas Carol for many years, but always wondered what the meaning was. First of all a partridge in a pear tree was mentioned in all 12 verses so what does a partridge represent?
While playing Christmas songs at an assisted living facility, we all tried singing and remembering all the birds, partridges, turtle doves, leaping Lords and maids milking in order. But none of us seemed to know the meaning of the words.
Then a gentleman looked it up with the help of Google and shared the following info with us. So what does the 12 days of Christmas represent?
Discover the meaning of the gift for each of the 12 days of Christmas that relate to the fundamentals of the Christian faith now as you read the meanings of the verses.
First the Partridge in a pear tree:
1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas. Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young.
2. Two Turtledoves
These twin birds represent the Old and New Testaments. So, in this gift, the singer finds the complete story of the Christian faith and God’s plan for the world. The doves are the biblical roadmap that is available to everyone.
3. Three French Hens
These birds represent faith, hope, and love. This gift hearkens back to the love chapter written by the Apostle Paul. It also represents the Holy Trunity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
4. Four Calling Birds
One of the easiest facets of the song’s code to figure out these fowl are the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
5. Five Gold Rings
The gift of the rings represents the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah.
1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
6. Six Geese a-Laying
These lyrics can be traced back to the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation when God “hatched” or formed the world.
1. God created the heavens and the earth
2. God created the sky and seas
3. God created the land and plants
4. God created the sun, moon, and stars
5. God created fish and birds
6. God created land animals and man
7. Seven Swans a-Swimming
It would take someone quite familiar with the Bible to identify this gift. Hidden in the code are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1. Prophecy
2. Ministry
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Leading
7. Compassion
As swans are one of the most beautiful and graceful creatures on earth, they would seem to be a perfect symbol for spiritual gifts.
8. Eight Maids-a-Milking
As Christ came to save even the lowest of the low, this gift represents the ones who would receive his word and accept his grace. Being a milkmaid was about the worst job one could have in England during this period; this code conveyed that Jesus cared as much about servants as he did those of royal blood. The Eight Maids represent the 8 Beatitudes.
9. Nine Ladies Dancing
These nine dancers were really the gifts known as the fruit of the Spirit. They are as follows
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-control
10. Ten Lords-a-leaping
This is probably the easiest gift to understand. As lords were judges and in charge of the law, this code for the ten commandments was fairly straightforward to Christians.
11. Eleven Pipers Piping
This is almost a trick question, as most think of the disciples in terms of the dozen. But when Judas betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, only eleven men carried out the gospel message. Therefore, the Eleven Pipers Piping signify the 11 faithful disciples
1. Simon (whom He named Peter)
2. Andrew
3. James
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. Matthew
8. Thomas
9. James, son of Alphaeus
10. Simon, who was called the Zealot
11. Judas, son of James
12. Judas Iscariot was later replaced with faithful Matthias.
12. Twelve Drummers Drumming
The final gift is tied directly to the church. The drummers are the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. It begins
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
I found this interpretation of the song very interesting and for once it became clear what I was singing.
Merry Christmas Everyone and if you can sing The 12 Days of Christmas, I’ll Give You A Penny for Your Thoughts
