Poll any group of people and 9 out of 10 will tell you (“Survey says!”) that “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is at the top of their list of the most-despised songs of Christmas. It is for me

But I recently read in Ace Collins’ Stories Behind the Best-loved Songs of Christmas that hidden inside this song is a 16th Century code with biblical meaning.

At a time when Catholics were being hunted by the State Church of England and forced to worship underground, Catholic leaders sought to teach their children the faith but in a way that wouldn’t be apparent to the public. They crafted this song as a coded reminder of twelve essential doctrines of the Church. These doctrines are not exclusively Catholic but entirely biblical, so it doesn’t really matter your Christian background: uncovering this coded message might turn the worst song of Christmas into something moderately bearable!

1 – Partridge in a Pear Tree

This bird willing to sacrifice itself for its young pictures Jesus’ death on the cross, a.k.a. “a tree.”
(Gal 3:13)

2 – Turtle Doves

These birds of peace represent the Old and New Testaments.

3 – French Hens

These expensive birds represent the gifts of the Magi.
(Matthew 2)

4 – Calling Birds

These singing birds represent the four Gospels heralding the Good News of Jesus:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

5 – Gold Rings

These shining pieces of Jewelry represent the Torah which contains the Law, without which we would never know our need of a Savior.

6 – Geese a’Laying

These mother geese and their eggs represent the new life provided on the 6 days of creation.
(Gen 1)

7 – Swans a’Swimning

The graceful movement here represents the seven gifts of the Spirit.
(Rom 12:6-8)

8 – Maids a’Milking

These lowest-of-the-low servants represent all of us who need the Savior.
(Rom 3:10, 23)

9 – Ladies Dancing

These lively ladies represent the Fruit of the Spirit active in the believer’s life.
(Galatians 5)

10 – Lords a’Leaping

Lords were responsible for justice, so here they represent the Ten Commandments
(Exodus 20)

11 – Pipers Piping

These eleven musicians represent the eleven Disciples who took the Gospel of Jesus to the world.

12 – Drummers Drumming

This final group hammering out a steady beat represent the twelve statements found in the Apostles Creed.

I found this list incredibly informative and am glad then when I inevitably hear that horrible song this holiday season, I’ll at least have a reason to listen. For what I think is the only bearable rendition of this song, I encourage you to enjoy this from John Denver and the Muppets.

Merry Christmas 🪿

©2023 E.T.

Read More Christmas-related Books:

Fiction

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)
• The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke (1895)
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank L. Baum (1902)
• Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie (1938)
• Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark (1995)
• Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (2001)
• O Little Town by Don Reid (2008)
• Saving Christmas (movie) by Darren Doane (2014)

Nonfiction

• The Greatest Christmas Ever by Honor Books (1995)
• The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel (1998)
• God in the Manger by John MacArthur (2001)
• Stories Behind the Best-loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins (2001)
• More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins (2006)
• Why a Manger? by Bodie and Brock Thoene (2006)
• The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren (2008)
• God is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2010)
• Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller (2016)
• Christmas Playlist by Alistair Begg (2016)
• “The Worst Song of Christmas” by Elliot Templeton (2023)