Arguments Not to Use: The “12 Days of Christmas” Carol Contains a Hidden Meaning

However, for those listening to the song, it becomes tiresome. Even though new items are mentioned with every verse, the repetition gets old rather quickly. For example, having to sing (or hear sung) “two turtledoves” 11 times in one song gets to be exasperating, at least for this author.

What Are the 12 Days of Christmas?

The 12 days of Christmas signifies the time between the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas (December 25) and the celebration of the arrival of the three wise men, also known as the magi, called Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day (January 6), according to the traditional church calendar. No one really thinks these are the days these historical events happened; rather, the church began celebrating certain biblical events around the calendar both to teach illiterate Christians about biblical events and sometimes to replace pagan festivals. However, Scripture does not give a date for when the magi arrived, but from clues in the text, notably, Mary and Joseph living in a house in Bethlehem per Matthew 2:11 (not in the lower level of the house, but now likely living in the kataluma which was full when Jesus was born, as mentioned in Luke 2), and it might have been up to two years later (given the age of the boys Herod targeted).

Origin of the 12 Days of Christmas Carol

While the origin of the English version of this carol is widely established (at least regarding when it was first printed), there were several variations on the lyrics before 1909 when British composer Frederic Austin penned the version of the lyrics that we are all familiar with today. For example, the four calling birds were originally “four colly birds,” referring to blackbirds.

“Many historians believe that the Christmas carol started out as a ‘memory-and-forfeit’ game in England,”1 either shortly before or after the carol appeared in print.

“Many historians believe that the Christmas carol started out as a ‘memory-and-forfeit’ game in England,”1 either shortly before or after the carol appeared in print. “These types of games were played by British school children [usually one boy versus one girl], and the rules were simple.”2 One person would start the first verse of a song, and then the second child would repeat all the previously sung lyrics and add the next one, and so on it would go. “If you [a player] can’t remember a verse, you owe your opponent a ‘forfeit,’ which was usually a kiss [for the more audacious ], or piece of candy.”3

The High Cost of Giving That Many Gifts

Since 1984, PNC Bank has been tracking the price of giving each gift mentioned in the song with the PNC Christmas Price Index. The index uses current market rates to calculate how much each gift would cost, on average, for the modern consumer. Giving someone every gift mentioned in the song (and multiplied over the 12 days) would cost you—$201,972.66.4 If you wanted to just get one of the 12 items as a gift, even that could set you back $45,523.27.5 Coincidentally, the total number of gifts mentioned in the song comes out to 364, so a person could buy one gift every day for almost exactly a year.

Is There a Hidden Meaning in the “12 Days of Christmas” Song?

If you look this question up on Google (or any other search engine), you’ll likely see several different answers. One is that it was used covertly as a sign of affirmation of the faith to fellow believers and yet hide that faith from persecutors (usually mentioned as either English Protestants or Catholics). But this explanation makes no sense. The word Christmas is used in each verse, and the supposed “covert meanings” are things which both sides would affirm in principle. And some of the associations seem strained or just randomly determined (especially the 8th and 9th days). According to Parade, the list for what each gift represents is below.6

• A Partridge in a Pear Tree is said to represent Jesus Christ (a mother partridge is known to be willing to die while protecting her young), and is given on “the first day of Christmas” since the first of the twelve days falls on Christ’s birthday.7
• Two Turtle Doves symbolize both the Old and the New Testaments.
• Three French Hens stand for faith, hope, and love.
• Four Calling Birds are the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• Five Golden Rings represent the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Old Testament.
• Six Geese-a-Laying are the six days of creation (before the seventh day of rest).
• Seven Swans-a-Swimming symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and mercy.
• Eight Maids-a-Milking are the eight Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–10).
• Nine Ladies Dancing represent the fruit of the Spirit (according to Galatians 5:22–23): Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
• Ten Lords-a-Leaping are the Ten Commandments.
• Eleven Pipers Piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.
• Twelve Drummers Drumming, finally, symbolize the twelve points of belief stated in the Apostles’ Creed.8

As noted on the History Myths Debunked website, the song seems to be about a festive gathering, rather than a Christmas carol.

As noted on the History Myths Debunked website, the song seems to be about a festive gathering, rather than a Christmas carol. The site records a statement by the late professor and chairman of the classics department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Dr. Edward Phinney who said in 1990:

“All those ladies and dancing and pipers and drums imply this is a wedding. . . . The whole song seems to me to point to a festival of joy and love more appropriate to a secular holiday like Valentine’s Day or May Day than a religious holiday.”9

Yet others believe that the song does have hidden meaning but not related to Christianity. This position holds that all the verses represent birds eaten at medieval feasts. In addition to the named birds in the song, the other gifts (allegedly) not associated with birds, really are code terms for birds.

• The “five golden rings” are ring-necked pheasants.
• The “eight maids-a-milking” likely refers to magpies.
• The “nine ladies dancing” could be cormorants or cranes.
• The “ten lords-a-leaping” are likely grey herons.
• The “eleven pipers piping” are likely sandpipers.
• The “twelve drummers drumming” are likely the spotted woodpecker.10

Use Discernment Before Repeating Questionable Things in Regard to Christianity

While it may seem harmless to repeat something so frequently mentioned in articles, social media posts, and YouTube videos, we need to ask ourselves if the thing we are thinking of repeating/sharing is actually true or not. We are not to spread gossip or promote lies (Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:13, 18:8, 20:19, 26:20–22; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 1 Timothy 5:13). Even if it were true, is it worth repeating? Does it edify, encourage, or exhort (1 Thessalonians 3:2, 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:12)?

And in this particular case, the “12 Days of Christmas” carol does not have a hidden meaning related to Christianity; therefore, it is not true and should not be promulgated. It was not some secret code that Christians shared to avoid persecution or to proclaim their faith in the gospel of our Lord. It is a “love ballad” filled with lots of birds and people being festive.

However, the song could be useful as a teaching tool if someone were to take the time to explain the supposed symbolism and that there is little evidence it was used this way historically. It might also be used as a springboard for a good memorization teaching tool. Create and start the first verse of a song and have a child make up the next verse and the next, and then make them try to remember the lyrics to each stanza as the “game” progresses.

So go ahead and listen to the song when it comes on the radio and sing along if you want to, thinking even about how each day’s gifts could remind you of the many beautiful gifts in Scripture and of being a Christian. If you have children who haven’t heard it before (or barely remember it), have them concentrate on the words and try to remember each day in the song. Just don’t tell them (or others) the unsubstantiated story that this is a song with hidden historical meanings about Christianity.