The 12 Days of Christmas is called Twelvetide or Christmastide, depending on the religion
I was bought up in a Church Of England home and this is my interpretation, please feel free to share your own if different in the comments
It has been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and has always been a time of celebrations
Christmas day is actually the first day of the 12 Days Of Christmas and the last day is January 5
Each day of the 12 Days Of Christmas has a different meaning and people celebrate a different thing on each day
12 Days Of Christmas Song
Is an old English Christmas carol introduced in 1780 as part of a children’s book, believed to originally be French
It is a song of simple structure and verse, which refers to a number of elaborate gifts to celebrate the holy season
Lyrics
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me, three French hen, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
Subsequent verses follow the same pattern, each adding one new gift and repeating all the earlier gifts so that each verse is one line longer than its predecessor:
4 calling birds
5 gold rings
6 geese a-laying
7 swans a-swimming
8 maids a-milking
9 ladies dancing
10 lords a-leaping
11 pipers piping
12 drummers drumming
Each Day Celebrates
Here are the days and why they are celebrated
Day 1
Christmas Day celebrates the Birth of Jesus Christ
Day 2
Boxing Day or St. Stephens Day as it is to celebrate Christian martyr St. Stephen
Day 3
Celebration of St John the Apostle who wrote the book of Revelation, and is the patron saint of live, loyalty, friendships and authors
Day 4
The Feast Of The Holy Innocents is the day when people remember all of the baby boys who were killed by King Herod, in his search to find and kill the Baby Jesus
Day 5
Remembrance of St Thomas Becket as he was the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th Century and was murdered on December 29 1170 for challenging the King’s authority over the church.
Day 6
St. Egwin of Worcester who died 30th December, he was known as the protector of orphans and the widowed
Day 7
New Years Eve and also Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated. In some eastern European countries New Year’s Eve is still traditionally called Silvester
Day 8
Mary the mother of Jesus is celebrated
Day 9
St Basil the Great and St Gregory Nazianzen 2 very important 4th century Christians
Day 10
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus as this is the day he was named in the Holy Temple
Day 11
St Elizabeth Ann Seton the first American saint who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries
Day 12
Epiphany Eve and St John Neumann who was the first Bishop in America who lived in the 19th century
Leave me a comment below: Was the 12 days of Christmas anything you were taught or do you have a different understanding on the meaning?
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What a lovely post, it is a shame many people don’t follow the 12 days of Christmas anymore. Even on Halloween, while trick or treating with my boys we saw Christmas lights up in peoples houses, i’m sure you will soon get fed up of dusting them.
A lovely post xx
Wow my three girls and I would love this
I went to a Catholic school (although I’m not and never have been catholic – it was just the best school in the area, education-wise) and I was taught pretty much the same as this. However, in Pagan lore it is a little different. The main difference is the 24th of December which is the Festival of Light. the 25th is Nativity of the Invincible Sun (or returning sun, because the day is longer) and the 12th day is actually Jan 1st. The Christians changed it to Jan 6th, apparently in the hope of ending the mead-fuelled revelry of celebrating the Old Crone Goddess and the celebrations would typically last from the 29th to the 1st. Not much else is different though – a traditional pagan Yule log would be brought in and decorated, then burned – I think I prefer the modern chocolate yule log which is brought in then scoffed!
Love this post. So excited for Xmas. I have learnt something new as I didn’t know about the 12 days of Christmas in this way.
Great post and fantastic explanation
Now needing Chocolate – can’t wait for Christmas
What a wonderful post! xx
A lovely written post x
thank you for such a detailed explanation x
Great post
Although I am not a religious person, I thoroughly enjoyed your explanation of the 12 days.
I will be posting them on my Facebook each day of Christmas to enlighten all.
Thank You
Love the count down to Christmas
Thanks for this really interesting post…. known the song forever, of course, but never really gave much thought to the meanings behind it. Really enlightening, thanks!
Such a lovely blog post, I totally love Christmas! Xxx
wow! did not know this
Amazing informative read
A fabulous blog post and lovely items. It has been interesting to read the meanings behind a song we all know so well . thank you
I love this christmas song, its one we sang at school and as a famiyl growing up and it is so nice to see my kids learning at their school and so we sing it at home. It brings such a smile to my face when we all sing together it makes xmas time more special
Fantastic. Last year I had great fun teaching my little man the 12 days of Christmas
A very well researched and informative blog. A pleasure to read.
Lovely story and song
Thanks for taking time to explain this
you have so many lovely blog posts
I was aware off the 12 days of Christmas but it’s fair to say i was never really aware of the true meanings. Lovely giveaways with a range of things for everyone
I was raised Catholic but I was never taught about the 12 days of Christmas.
I’m trying to find the perfect present’s for my teenage niece ( NOT easy ). To be honest the only thing i really love about Christmas is the music.
Oh wow, just found your blog, love it … ! 🙂
I wasn’t really taught about the 12 days of Christmas to be honest. Was interesting reading this post. Have a lovely Christmas x
A lovely explanation thank you very much indeed.
Interesting to see behind the poem and hear about its meaning. Nowadays – as a Man United supporter- I tend to sing the 12 days of Cantona!
I love this. I always wondered when the 12 Days Of Christmas started and now I know. 💕🎅
It really is the 12 days of Christmas
Love the 12 days of Christmas so many blog items and learned so much – thank you
Thanks! Also, interesting info from Bev!!