The Symbolism of the 12 Days of Christmas 18
Most of us are familiar with the Christmas song, The 12 Days of Christmas,? even though many folks might have a bit of trouble keeping the lines of the song straight after about the sixth day! This song has been sung for generations, and is a traditional part of the Christmas season. There have even been many versions of the song that have come out, since the structure lends itself well to variation and even humor. But did you ever stop to think what this seemingly nonsensical song really is about? While there is some disagreement over the actual purpose for The 12 Days of Christmas? among historians, the theories regarding this fun and lively song are quite intriguing.
What exactly are the 12 Days of Christmas?
It may surprise you to know that the 12 days of Christmas actually take place after Christmas day itself. Celebrated among many cultures they represent the Epiphany, which begins on December 26th and continues through January 6th. In the western church this is seen as the time it took the magi as they journeyed to see the baby Christ. This is a popular gift giving holiday, and is why January 6th is often referred to as Three Kings Day in many cultures around the globe. The symbolism is significant as it marks the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the three kings. Some cultures do not wait until a single day to gift gifts, but instead give a gift everyday for the 12 days of Christmas. Going back even further the 12 days of Christmas are often celebrated as a Pagan holiday meant to symbolize the coming of the new year and the banishing of evil spirits during this period.
There is a popular theory among historians that the gifts represented in The 12 Day of Christmas? are actually symbols created by the Catholic Church to help children learn the catechism. Dating back to the 16th century during a time of religious wars in England the gifts are meant to represent a