12 Days of Christmas Origin?

[Lilith]

Have any of you heard this? Can anyone confirm or deny it? Just curious?

I am always interested in the real story behind songs that were developed for children like "Ring Around the Rosie".



From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during the era wrote the "Twelve Days of Christmas" as a catechism Carol for young children. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning. Each element of the Carol has a codeword for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in the Pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testament.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of The Holy Spirit -- prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership, and mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the holy spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The ten lords a-leaping were for the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

[gekkogecko]

Never heard the one about the origin of the TDoC.

"Ring Around the Rosie": this one is supposed to re-create the pandemics that hit Europe in the middle Ages.

Ring Aroudn the Rosie: Both bubonic plague and small pox produce rashes at different stages of their progression; in particular, bubonic plague can produce a very bright red ring of pustules.

Pocket full of posies: There was a time that it was widely believed that pleasant smells confer some immunity to highly contagious diseases; flowers were often carried on one's person to ward off the current disease.

Ashes, ashes: With people dropping left and right, it often became necessary to cremate the masses of dead. Also, it was often that large outbreaks of fires would follow a local epidemic, since there were far fewer people to prevent small fires from becomming large ones.

We all fall down: Yeah, dead.

[Lilith]

Yep yep gekkogecko that is the story I know too basically. I heard that poseys were placed in the pockets of the dead because the bodies sat around so long that the flowers were supposed to help with the odor of decay.

[nikki1979]

thats the version i heard as well lilith, kinda a morbid childs song but hey i luved to dances round to it when i was young and i turned out fine !!!!! ((((lush, dont u dare say a word)))
~nikki~

[Steph]

Interesting. I've never thought about the origins of the 12 days of Christmas before. I'd hear the "Ring around the Rosie" story, though.

Here's what I've found:

What we do know is that the twelve days of Christmas in the song are the twelve days between the birth of Christ (Christmas, December 25) and the coming of the Magi (Epiphany, January 6). Although the specific origins of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" are not known, it possibly began as a Twelfth Night "memory-and-forfeits" game in which the leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as a offering up a kiss or a sweet.

There are no obvious relationships between the concepts to be memorized and the symbols used to represent them in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." In what way do "eight maids a-milking" remind one of the Eight Beatitudes? How are "nine ladies dancing" supposed to bring the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit to mind? (Yes, some interpreters have attempted to explain these relationships, but their explanations are so contrived and convoluted as to be beyond the grasp of the children who were supposed to be the primary beneficiaries of this alleged cathechism song.)

More at:

http://snopes.com/holidays/christmas/12days.asp


The one that made me wonder was 10 Lords a-leapin'. The 10 Commandments are so sacred that the phrasing of leapin' Lords seems it would offend . . .

[Lilith]

I thought about that too steph..thanks for clearing it up for me!

[Steph]

Where did all those lyrics come from then?

I remember years ago hearing a soft news report about much all those gifts would cost if you actually bought them.

Big leap for 12 days a-spendin'

Partridge in a pear tree a bargain, but 7 swans jump by two-thirds, driving '12 Days' cost up 19%.

http://money.cnn.com/2003/12/08/news/economy/partridge/?cnn=yes

[lakritze]

Lilith,I have heard that story too.I cannot discount it.I can only imagin some missionary divising it as a way to teach some poor natives a lessor or two.By the way,I love your new avatar.Thank you for keeping my heart in my throat and my cock on extra strength viagra.Now if you will kindly go to my new thread you can help complete the 12 days of Christmas in a fine Pixie mannor.

[LixyChick]

Rock-a-bye-baby isn't exactly as soothing as babies would think either! Geezzzzz! Matter of fact.....most children's songs and poems and tales are rather scary! Hansel and Gretel scared the pee outta me when I was young.............but, as usual......I digress!

Sorry...*blink, blink*