During the Christmas season we hear on the radio or carolers singing “the Twelve Days of Christmas,” and in Church we hear the phrase “the Octave of Christmas” and perhaps wonder “what’s the difference?”

We all know the Twelve Days of Christmas: everything from “A Partridge in a Pear Tree” to “Ten Lords a Leaping” and beyond. Personally, the Twelve Days of Christmas offers an excuse for mailing out my Christmas cards late! After all, the season has just begun!!

Some believe that this Christmas song was written in England as a “Catechism song” to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith, as a coded message during the religious wars when the public and private practice of the Roman Catholic faith was not permitted (during the period between 1558 and 1829 when it was illegal to be Catholic), an Act of Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, in that same year. The “proof” on why it was written is not substantive either way.

The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. As they are not the twelve days before Christmas but are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany, January 6th. In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th with the following day considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th). In these traditions, the twelve days begin December 26 and include Epiphany on January 6. The origin and counting of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures.

The popular song mentioned above is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children with secular origins. However, as noted earlier, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction, dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Christian Faith, a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn.


However, many have questioned the historical accuracy of this origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas. While some have tried to debunk this as an "urban myth" out of personal agendas, others have tried to deal with this account of the song's origin in the name of historical accuracy (see Snopes on The 12 Days of Christmas). There is little "hard" evidence available either way. Some church historians affirm this account as basically accurate, while others point out apparent historical and logical discrepancies. However, one may need to acknowledge that the "evidence" on both sides is mostly in logical deduction and probabilities. Lack of positive evidence does not automatically provide negative evidence and often what is omitted is that there is no "substantive evidence" that will disprove it either. It is certainly possible, in fact probable, that this view of the song is legendary or anecdotal. Without corroboration and in the absence of "substantive evidence," we probably should not take rigid positions on either side or turn the song into a crusade for personal opinions. That would do more to violate the spirit of Christmas than the song is worth. So, for the sake of historical accuracy, we need to acknowledge the likelihood that the song had secular origins. But here are the Christian meanings:

• A Partridge in a Pear Tree: The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)

• Two Turtle Doves: The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world

• Three French Hens: The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

• Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

• Five Gold Rings: The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

• Six Geese A-laying: The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

• Seven Swans A-swimming: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

• Eight Maids A-milking: The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
  (Matthew 5:3-10)

• Nine Ladies dancing: The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

• Ten Lords A-leaping: The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no oth-er gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

• Eleven Pipers piping: The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple,Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

• Twelve Drummers drumming: The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. (5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of power. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the for-giveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

The Octave (eighth) has two senses in Christian—and particularly Catholic—liturgical usage. In the first sense, it is the eighth day after a feast and so always falls on the same day of the week as the feast itself. The word is derived from Latin Octava, with dies (a 24-hour period/day) understood. In the second sense, the term is applied to the whole period of these eight days, during which certain major feasts come to be observed (Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas). The word Octave dates back as early Charlemagne in Theodemar’s (King of Galicia) writings. In the ancient Jewish texts the number seven was prominent, i.e., the Sabbath, and so early Christian writings note an eight-day celebration.

After centuries of different Octaves in the Church, Pope Pius VI (1965) reduced their number and degrees to the current three (Easter, Pentecost and Christmas). For our current octave,
Christmas, it includes the Sunday within the Octave, the feast of the Holy Family, feast of St. Stephen, feast of John the Apostle, feast of the Holy Innocents, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother
of God on 1 January. In non-liturgical uses, the word “octave” is applied to some church observances such as the week of January 18-25 known as the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” but may be referred to an octave especially in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglo-Catholic traditions. And in Luxembourg, there is what is called an “octave celebration” from
the 3rd to the 5th Sunday after Easter to commemorate Our Lady of Luxembourg, the patroness of the city. There will be a test on Tuesday!

Source: Catholic Answers; Catholic Dictionary