12 Days of Christmas: We know the song, but what does it mean?

ON the first day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me

A partridge in a pear tree

Several Filipinos have probably heard this song a lot these days as Christmas Day nears. “12 Days of Christmas” is one of the well-known and much-loved Christmas songs.

The Philippines is known to have the longest Christmas celebration. 

The festive vibes can already be felt as soon as the first month of “Ber” months comes in, with Filipinos starting to buy early Christmas gifts for their loved ones and decorations for their homes to get into the holiday spirit. Some establishments, like shopping centers and cafès, also began streaming their Christmas playlist. 

But when exactly does the Christmas season begin? Well, it starts on Christmas Day, December 25, until January 6—popularly known as the 12 Days of Christmas, similar to the title of the classic Christmas carol.

Meaning behind ‘12 Days of Christmas’

If one looks at the song’s lyrics today, it is about the gifts given to a person by their “true love” during the 12 days of Christmas.

On the first day, it is a partridge in a pear tree, followed by two turtle doves, three French hens, four calling birds, five golden rings, six geese a-laying, seven swans a-swimming, eight maids a-milking, nine ladies dancing, 10 lords a-leaping, 11 pipers piping, and 12 drummers drumming.

The song has been around for centuries, with its earliest version believed to appear in a children’s book, “Mirth Without Mischief,” in 1780. Several parts of the lyrics people know today were not the same as the ones printed in the book, such as the fact that four “calling” birds were initially four “colly” birds.

Many young Filipinos know “12 Days of Christmas” as a popular Christmas song. 

But in Christian beliefs, 12 days of Christmas refers to the journey of the three wise men, also known as the “Magi,” to see the newborn baby Jesus. It began on Christmas Day, December 25, and ran through January 6, also known as the Epiphany.

In the Philippines, the Christmas season is felt from the beginning of the “Ber” months until January, with some Filipinos keeping their Christmas decorations up until the Epiphany.

Symbols of 12 gifts

Most Filipinos know the story about the Magi offering three gifts to baby Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But little did they know, the 12 gifts mentioned in the Christmas carol have symbolic meanings, according to “A Handbook of Catholic Sacramental” written by Ann Ball.

The book said the gifts represent the following:

• The partridge in the pear tree – Jesus Christ
• Two turtle doves – the Old and New Testaments
• Three French hens – faith, hope, and love
• Four calling birds – the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
• Five golden rings – the first five books of the Old Testament
• Six geese a-laying – the six days of creation
• Seven swans a-swimming – the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Eight maids a-milking – the eight Beatitudes found in the Gospel of Matthew (5:3-12)
• Nine ladies dancing – the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Ten lords a-leaping – the 10 Commandments
• Eleven pipers piping – the 11 faithful Apostles
• Twelve drummers drumming – the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed

The “12 Days of Christmas” is said to be a “catechism” song used to help young Catholics understand the tenets of their faith. 

Fr. Frankie Cicero, a Catholic priest, explained in a TikTok video that it was originally “a poem” written by Catholic priests “to teach the faith during the time of great persecution.” He said the 12 gifts represent something “very important” about the Christian faith.

Pinoy version

Not only did the lyrics evolve, but the song also has its own diverse renditions, including a Filipino version performed by the iconic Original Pinoy Music (OPM) group Apo Hiking Society.

The Filipino version is called “12 Days of Pinoy Krismas,” which was part of the OPM icon’s “Paskonapo” album in 2006.

This time, the modified version of the lyrics becomes more relatable to Philippine Christmas celebrations. The gifts include a basketball, a sport prominent in the Philippines; lechong baboy, a staple on Filipinos’ Christmas dining table; a case of beer, which has been part of Filipinos’ celebration of special occasions; and Christmas lanterns or parols, which serve as the iconic symbol for Christmas in the country.

Aside from the 12 days of Christmas, part of the Philippine Christmas celebrations is the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi, which will lead to the birth of Jesus Christ. This starts on December 16 and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24.