Here's what we're wondering about:
The 12 Days of Christmas!
Now that Christmas and the Christ Child are here (at last!), we celebrate 12 days - through January 5, up to the Epiphany - the arrival of the 3 Magi on January 6
Tradition has it that the words to this familiar carol are codes!
Snopes say FALSE! - but let's look anyway:
here's what some sources have to say about what means what:
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 Pipers Piping: eleven faithful apostles =
Peter and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John; Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Less, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus
9 Ladies Dancing: nine fruits of the Holy Spirit = love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
eight people saved from the Flood (Noah, his wife, his three sons, their wives)
7 Swans a-Swimming: seven gifts of the Holy Spirit = wisdom, counsel, understanding, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord
-or-
the seven sacraments = Holy Baptism, Eucharist (Holy Communion),
Confirmation, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Orders, and Unction
5 Golden Rings: the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch, also known as the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)
4 Calling Birds (aka "colly" birds = blackbirds): four gospels and/or the
four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
3 French Hens: Faith, Hope, and Charity - or - the Holy Trinity - or - the gifts of
the Three Magi (frankincense, gold, and myrrh)
2 Turtle Doves: the Old and New Testaments
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus Christ
Why do you think each was chosen for what?
And how much does all this festivity cost?
Check out the PNC Christmas Price Index, which tabulates and calculates the price of everything. This year, because of pandemic cancellations of dancers, leapers, drummers, and other performers - the cost has gone down significantly. But swans still cost a lot, as do other birds and gold, etc., bringing this year's total outlay to:
$16,168.14
(-58.5% from 2019!)
You could make your own version of "how many of what (means what)" -
aka "The Twelve Days of (Your Choice)"!
In your life, what are there 12 of, 11 of, 10 of. . . & so on?
I wonder what your song is like?
I'd love to hear it!
