Why are there 12 days of christmas

It wasn't set to music until the 20th century. The tune of this now-familiar Christmas carol only dates back to the early twentieth century, when it was composed by Frederic Austin. Giving someone all the gifts in the song would be expensive. It has been parodied numerous times. Kat Eschner is a freelance science and culture journalist based in Toronto. Partridges, turtledoves, geese Wikimedia Commons You might already be getting tired of Christmas carols, but they have a long history.

He was one of the earliest popes in the 4th Century. Archery was a very popular sport and during the middle ages it was the law that it had to be practised by all men between ages on Sunday after Church! This was so the King had lots of very good archers ready in case he need to go to war! Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, two important 4th century Christians. This remembers when Jesus was officially 'named' in the Jewish Temple. It's celebrated by different churches on a wide number of different dates!

Day 11 4th January : St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. Day 12 5th January also known as Epiphany Eve : St. But what does any of this mean? What does a song about doves, hens and geese have to do with Christmas? The carol has its roots in 18th-century England, as a memory-and-forfeit game sung by British children. In the game, players had to remember all of the previous verses and add a new verse at the end.

Those unable to remember a verse paid a forfeit, in the form of a kiss or a piece of candy to the others. One theory, however, connects the carol to the era when Catholicism was outlawed in England, from and The carol , it is said, was a catechism song for Catholics to learn "the tenets of their faith," as they could not openly practice in Anglican society [source: Snopes. While many still hold the idea of a coded hymn to be true, there's no substantive evidence that this was the case, nor is there any evidence that the verses contain anything uniquely Catholic.

Here are the verses of the song, along with their supposed symbolism [source: BBC. While these verses are what most of us associate with the "Twelve Days of Christmas," the phrase refers to an actual day period.

While sects of Christianity celebrate the 12 days of Christmas differently, certain ones, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, consider the Epiphany to be the most important day of the Christmas season. Some exchange gifts on each of the 12 days instead of only on Christmas day. What are some other unique customs certain sects of Christianity have in celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas? He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. Nothing will ever be safe or normal again.

In the words of Michael Card, we are called to "follow God's own fool. The one who revealed the surprising meaning of God's Law and turned the tables on human traditions nonetheless submitted to be circumcised according to the teaching of Moses.

Finally, on Epiphany January 6 , the celebration of Christmas comes to an end. Epiphany commemorates the beginning of the proclamation of the gospel—Christ's manifestation to the nations, as shown in three different events: the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the turning of water into wine. In the Western tradition, the Magi predominate. But in the Eastern churches, Jesus' baptism tends to be the primary theme. In the Bucharest subway, children leading lambs walk through the trains in commemoration of the Lamb of God to whom John pointed.

Orthodox Christians traditionally have their homes blessed with holy water on or around this day. Nowhere is Epiphany celebrated more joyously than in Ethiopia. Pilgrims from all over the country converge on the ancient city of Aksum, where they bathe in a great reservoir whose waters have been blessed by a priest. Epiphany is often a forgotten festival although, by the accident of Edwin's mother's birthday falling on January 5, his very un-liturgical family preserved the ancient tradition of keeping the Christmas decorations up until Epiphany.

As the true end-point of the Christmas season, however, Epiphany sends us into the world to live out the Incarnation, to witness to the light of Christ in the darkness. Following Jesus, we have been baptized into his death and resurrection. Whether we are called to martyrdom, or to prophetic witness, or simply to faithful living in the joys and sorrows of our daily lives, we live all of our days in the knowledge of our dignity, redeemed through Christ and united to God.

We are part of the strange society of people whose world has been turned upside down, and we go out to witness to this topsy-turvy truth: "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us: and we beheld his glory … and of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace" John , Sections Home. Bible Coronavirus Prayer.

Subscribe Member Benefits Give a Gift. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. Christian History Archives Eras Home.