12 days for the birds
I loved the idea too - ascribing hidden religious meanings to the ostensibly secular song, "The 12 Days of Christmas." It marks the 12 days between Christmas and Jan. 6 - the Epiphany and believed date of Christ's actual birth, a time for celebration and feasting in the Middle Ages. People are naturally attracted to stories of determined faith breaking through barriers, such as the one making Internet rounds (for the 13th year in a row) claiming this song is really a list of symbols created secretly to teach catechism to oppressed Reformation-era Catholics under Anglican control.
Perhaps you've heard it; the partridge is Jesus Christ, the turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments, the "calling" (actually, colly) birds are really the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ...
Like many popular urban legends, this one is false. The meanings ascribed were common to all Christians of the time, not Catholic-specific, so there would have been no need for secrecy. Even more interesting is that the song isn't even of English origin, but French and Scandinavian (where earlier evidence of it was found). The song describes edible birds, music and dancing to celebrate the holiday for all Christians.
What may have happened is a mix-up - one of those slow changes in retelling of history - with another song called "A New Dial," or "In Those 12 Days" - a memory game. It includes no birds, maids, or rings, but by interesting coincidence lists many of the "secret meanings" in the urban legend:
What are they but one?
We have one God alone.
What are they but two?
Two testaments Old and New.
...What are they but six?
Six days to labor is not wrong,
For God himself did work so long.
A few other misinterpretations of this Christmas song have stuck over the years, especially when it comes to birds. Colly birds are blackbirds, not white "calling" birds. The five golden rings are ring-necked pheasant-like creatures, not jewelry. With these corrections, the seven-day pattern of edible birds (yes, they ate swans and blackbirds in the Middle Ages) is re-established from the original French version. Follow that with five days to dance off the added pounds, and the song paints a cohesive celebratory picture.
During the 12 days of Christmas, traditional roles were often relaxed; masters waited on their servants, men dressed as women, and women as men. Some of these traditions may have been adapted from pagan customs, including the Roman Saturnalia (feast for the God of Saturn/solstice).
Maybe it's just more fun to enjoy the legend.
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Send email to [email protected]