Epiphany - Religious Significance of the 12 Days of Christmas

Epiphany - Religious Significance of the 12 Days of Christmas

Epiphany (from Koine Greek ἐπιφάνεια "appearance", "manifestation") is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God made Man in the person of Jesus Christ. It falls on January 6 or on a Sunday close to that date. January 6 in the Julian Calendar, which is followed by some Eastern Churches, corresponds at present to January 19 in the Gregorian Calendar, which is the official civil calendar in most countries. On this day, Western Christians commemorate principally the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the child Jesus, i.e., his manifestation to the Gentiles; Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. It is also called Theophany, especially by Eastern Christians. read full story wikipedia

12 Days of Christmas

The feast of Epiphany begins on Christmas day and ends twelve nights later. Twelfth Night has long been thought to be the day the Magi of Three Wise Men arrived from the East with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to attend the infant Jesus.

The new and old testaments of the Holy Bible are represented by the 2 turtle doves.
The theological virtues of faith, hope and charity by the 3 French hens
and the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John represented by 4 calling birds.

The five golden rings represent the Pentateuch which are the first 5 books of the old testament of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

The biblical story of the six days creation are represented by the 6 geese a laying
and the seven swans a swimming are the seven sacraments, the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The 8 beatitudes are represented by the 8 maids a milking
and the nine fruits of the holy Spirit are the 9 ladies dancing.

The most obvious aspect for many will be the ten commandments and the 10 Lords a leaping,
with eleven faithful apostles of Jesus Christ as the 11 pipers who pipe out their call to the faithful.
Finally the Apostle's Creed has 12 points of principle which are drummed by the 12 drummers.