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12 days of Christmas Song |
| Christmas On Net >> 12 Days of Christmas >> 12 Days of Christmas Song |
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The 12 Days of Christmas song is a very popular and favorite English Christmas carol that itemizes the impressive presents gifted on the twelve days of Christmas, categorically mentioning the gifts that were given on each of these twelve days. Interestingly, throughout Europe and America, the 12 Days of Christmas song has been one of the most recorded songs in the past hundred years.
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The most striking aspect of the 12 Days of Christmas song is that it is a 'cumulative song' in which every verse or stanza is created by a successive addition to the previous one. The song comprises twelve stanzas and in every stanza, gifts bestowed on each day of the twelve days of Christmas, by "my true love" to "me" is elaborately delineated. It should be noted that the gifts are actually religious symbols and it is worth mentioning what each one stands for.
- 1 true love is a reference to God Himself
- 2 turtle doves denotes the Old and the New Testaments
- 3 French hens stand for the theological virtues, namely Faith, Hope and Charity
- 4 calling birds are an obscure implication to the four evangelists and/or the four gospels
- 5 golden rings is a reference to the first five books of the Old Testament
- 6 geese a-laying is a hint to the six days of creation
- 7 swans a-swimming means the seven sacraments of the Holy Spirit
- 8 maids a-milking is an indirect mention of the eight beatitudes
- 9 ladies dancing signify the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
- 10 lords a-leaping connote the Ten Commandments
- 11 pipers piping symbolize the eleven steadfast apostles
- 12 drummers drumming stand for the twelve doctrinal points in the Apostle's creed
Even though much importance is attached to the connotations referred to above, it is significant to remark that such religious and spiritual denotations are not supported by any substantial evidence. It is highly probable this is simply a fabled or anecdotal perspective of the 12 Days of Christmas song. Whatever be the case this song plays a crucial role in the festivals and festivities of Christmas along with a few other Christmas carols.
The 12 Days of Christmas song is, however, available in a number of versions which vary due to dissimilar arrangement of the gift items, particularly in the final verse. The song also has multiple modern adaptations and travesties that are bound to delight one.
To further unravel the 'mathematical puzzle' embedded in the 12 Days of Christmas song, keep flipping through the pages of Christmasonnet.
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