The 12 Days of Christmas
12 Days of Christmas festive period and are a very mysterious that starts on Boxing Day, 26 December and ends January 6, Epiphany. Epiphany ("event" or "appearance" in Greek) is a feast of origin pagan. After the festivities at the winter solstice (Saturnales. ..), January 6 marked the increasing day length and hence the resurgence and rebirth of light. The Epiphany is celebrated is the end of the Christmas cycle of 12 days. Epiphany was later Christianized (religious festival celebrating the presentation of the Child Jesus to the Magi).
During these 12 days, located after the winter solstice, the daylight steadily decreasing and then the expected return of clarity. During these 12 days of night still, these 12 days and 12 nights dark well, it tries to unravel the mysteries of the future through small details or symbolic actions sometimes "magical". It protects citizens through fires purifiers, there is nature and animals, moisture, mist, moon, and we draw from these observations various omens for crops and climate of the coming year .
Thus, during this cycle of 12 days, each day is a month of the year. In France, according to ancient folk traditions, each of these days the weather announcement the month to which it is associated with (we have elsewhere in France a multitude of sayings about this). And who has not in his immediate circle an "old" can predict the weather or the crops of the coming months just looking at the sky? " It often amused, and yet ... most of the time, the future gives them right! Here is what this popular tradition:
12 Days of Christmas festive period and are a very mysterious that starts on Boxing Day, 26 December and ends January 6, Epiphany. Epiphany ("event" or "appearance" in Greek) is a feast of origin pagan. After the festivities at the winter solstice (Saturnales. ..), January 6 marked the increasing day length and hence the resurgence and rebirth of light. The Epiphany is celebrated is the end of the Christmas cycle of 12 days. Epiphany was later Christianized (religious festival celebrating the presentation of the Child Jesus to the Magi).
"Twelfth Night" - David Teniers the Younger (1640)
During these 12 days, located after the winter solstice, the daylight steadily decreasing and then the expected return of clarity. During these 12 days of night still, these 12 days and 12 nights dark well, it tries to unravel the mysteries of the future through small details or symbolic actions sometimes "magical". It protects citizens through fires purifiers, there is nature and animals, moisture, mist, moon, and we draw from these observations various omens for crops and climate of the coming year .
Thus, during this cycle of 12 days, each day is a month of the year. In France, according to ancient folk traditions, each of these days the weather announcement the month to which it is associated with (we have elsewhere in France a multitude of sayings about this). And who has not in his immediate circle an "old" can predict the weather or the crops of the coming months just looking at the sky? " It often amused, and yet ... most of the time, the future gives them right! Here is what this popular tradition:
Look how are conducted
Since Christmas
For twelve days after these twelve days
The twelve months will have their course
Since Christmas
For twelve days after these twelve days
The twelve months will have their course
By region, this cycle changes name, see the same duration. In Provence, it is called "Calendo" (Calende time that actually extends to Candlemas), in the Perigord it begins at St. Catherine (November 25th), Berry is named the "difficult" it is of Lorraine "12 small month, "in other regions are" Ajeti "and Quebec have the" log ".
Note that in most parts of the world where we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, the festivities begin (often several weeks before) by lantern parades, visits by groups of children dressed up singing and dancing , going from house to house to collect some goodies: Halloween 31 October in the Anglo-Saxon, St Martin on November 11 in Germany, Sink Tuck on November 25 in the North Canadian, parades and belsnickels Mummers Christmas in Quebec, festivals and parades in St. Lucia on December 13 Scandinavia, etc. ...
Note that in most parts of the world where we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, the festivities begin (often several weeks before) by lantern parades, visits by groups of children dressed up singing and dancing , going from house to house to collect some goodies: Halloween 31 October in the Anglo-Saxon, St Martin on November 11 in Germany, Sink Tuck on November 25 in the North Canadian, parades and belsnickels Mummers Christmas in Quebec, festivals and parades in St. Lucia on December 13 Scandinavia, etc. ...
A rhyme is associated with these 12 festive days. This folk song enumerates a list of all gifts received absolutely incredible and unlikely during this period of 12 days at a daily gift. This song was first published in England in 1780, it is not known, however the exact origin of the rhyme (it would perhaps of French origin). The first musical version was recorded in England in 1842 by James O. Halliwell.
One theory is that this rhyme is an allegory, each gift designating a particular religious teaching. This song would have been used to circumvent the ban imposed on religious practice English Catholics during the second half of the sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century. We have learned the catechism to children. Note however that this theory is based on no evidence speaks for itself. The symbols developed:
"My love" should be heard as the infant Jesus.
Day 1 - The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus on the Cross. The pear tree is the symbol of Adam, who crunched the forbidden fruit
Day 2 - The two doves are a reference to the Old and New Testament.
Day 3 - The three clucking hens are faith, hope, love.
Day 4 - The four birds are singing the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Luke, Mark, John.
Day 5 - The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Book of Numbers Deuteronomy.
Day 6 - Six Geese Pond would be six days of creation (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday reserved for the rest of God).
Day 7 - Seven swans swimming would refer to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, fear of the Lord and finally piety. But they could also symbolize the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, sloth).
Day 8 - Eight farm milking remind the eight beatitudes of Jesus' sermon on the mount.
Day 9 - The nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, temperance.
Day 10 - Ten men jumping symbolize the 10 commandments.
Day 11 - Eleven pipers were the eleven apostles of Jesus.
Day 12 - The twelve drummers represent beliefs of the Twelve Apostles Creed.
The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes meanwhile suggests that these gifts represent a list of different dishes or activities, each corresponding to one month of the year.
To conclude, I would say that overall it is very difficult to bring out the rhyme or meanings evidence (if any simplemement it is useful to teach young children to count and run their memory while having fun), being probably the most interesting to sing and transmit to future generations to ensure survival of our cultural heritage so it does not turns off.
The principle is simple and repetitive, just sing a new verse by repeating then all those that have been said before. Here's the rhyme, good luck!
One theory is that this rhyme is an allegory, each gift designating a particular religious teaching. This song would have been used to circumvent the ban imposed on religious practice English Catholics during the second half of the sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century. We have learned the catechism to children. Note however that this theory is based on no evidence speaks for itself. The symbols developed:
"My love" should be heard as the infant Jesus.
Day 1 - The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus on the Cross. The pear tree is the symbol of Adam, who crunched the forbidden fruit
Day 2 - The two doves are a reference to the Old and New Testament.
Day 3 - The three clucking hens are faith, hope, love.
Day 4 - The four birds are singing the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Luke, Mark, John.
Day 5 - The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Book of Numbers Deuteronomy.
Day 6 - Six Geese Pond would be six days of creation (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday reserved for the rest of God).
Day 7 - Seven swans swimming would refer to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, fear of the Lord and finally piety. But they could also symbolize the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, sloth).
Day 8 - Eight farm milking remind the eight beatitudes of Jesus' sermon on the mount.
Day 9 - The nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, temperance.
Day 10 - Ten men jumping symbolize the 10 commandments.
Day 11 - Eleven pipers were the eleven apostles of Jesus.
Day 12 - The twelve drummers represent beliefs of the Twelve Apostles Creed.
The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes meanwhile suggests that these gifts represent a list of different dishes or activities, each corresponding to one month of the year.
To conclude, I would say that overall it is very difficult to bring out the rhyme or meanings evidence (if any simplemement it is useful to teach young children to count and run their memory while having fun), being probably the most interesting to sing and transmit to future generations to ensure survival of our cultural heritage so it does not turns off.
The principle is simple and repetitive, just sing a new verse by repeating then all those that have been said before. Here's the rhyme, good luck!
The first day of Christmas, my true love
gave me a partridge in a pear tree.
the second day of Christmas, my true love
gave me two turtle doves and a partridge
in a pear tree.
the third day of Christmas, my true love
gave me three clucking hens, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the fourth day of Christmas, my true love
me singing four birds, three hens clucking
,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the fifth day of Christmas, my true love
gave me five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the sixth day of Christmas, my true love
gave me six geese ponding,
five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
The seventh day of Christmas, my true love
gave me seven swans swimming, six geese
ponding,
five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the eighth day of Christmas, my true love
gave me eight farm milking, seven swans
swimming, six geese
ponding,
five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the ninth day of Christmas, my true love
me nine ladies dancing, eight
farm milking, seven swans
swimming, six geese
ponding,
five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
,
two doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
the tenth day of Christmas, my true love
gave me ten men leaping, nine ladies dancing
,
eight farm milking, seven swans
swimming, six geese
ponding,
five golden rings, four birds
singing, giggling
three hens, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love
gave me eleven pipers, ten gentlemen
leaping nine ladies dancing
,
eight farm milking, seven swans
swimming, six geese
ponding,
five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love
gave me twelve drummers, pipers
eleven, ten gentlemen
leaping, nine ladies dancing
,
eight farm milking, seven swans
swimming, six geese
sponding,
five golden rings, four birds singing
, three hens clucking
, two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
To complete the rhyme, I suggest you go check out the site dltk-holidays coloring which offers 12, each corresponding to a 12-day song. See also the Quebec site secret mountain where you can browse the CD booklet of Christmas carols by their carefully edited, or even order the album (listen to audio excerpts online). On the site meteo.org you will also find a multitude of sayings related to the cycle of 12 days of Christmas.
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