Christmas Symbols
There you have it! Twenty complete lessons (4 weeks on a 5-day
school week schedule) on Christmas Symbols. We may add more as time permits.
Did we miss a Christmas symbol you would like to see included? Please, email
us, and we will consider making a lesson for it.
How
did we decide which symbols to use?
12 Days Of Christmas
History
-
One legend has it that during the middle ages, from the mid-1500's
to the early 1800's Christmas was extended from a one day celebration,
to a 12 day celebration, beginning with Christmas and ending with
the Epiphany. Often the wealthy would continue to give gifts after
Christmas, on each day until the epiphany. During this time, Catholics
were being persecuted, indeed, it was a crime punishable by a horrible
death to even be a Catholic. They came up with a song that was a catechism
for children to learn the Catholic faith, and each of the gifts were
a clue to this.
- In the song, the true love refers to God, me refers to the baptized,
and the partridge in the pear tree is Jesus. Here are what the other
symbols mean:
- 2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
- 3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
- 4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
- 5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the
"Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from
grace.
- 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
- 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven
sacraments 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
- 9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
- 10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
- 11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
- 12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's
Creed
- Others believe it's simply a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music
and was used as a "memory and forfeits game" that was played
by the children of the time. The game was played by a leader reciting
the first verse, and continued around, each child reciting the next
verse. The person who missed the verse usually had to pay a "penalty"
of some kind, decided before the game began.
- Many Christians celebrate January 6 as the Epiphany. It is also
known as the 12th Day of Christmas, the Twelfth Night, Three King's
Day, and the Theophany. The word "epiphany" means an appearance
or manifestation especially of a divine being; an illuminating discovery,
a revealing scene or moment. It is used to describe how the Wise Men
illuminated the divinity of the Christ Child with their worship and
gifts. Even though Jesus was much older when the Wise Men made it
to him, we celebrate the arrival 12 days after Christmas.
Modern Christian Symbolism
- When you hear the "12 Days of Christmas", remember that
many gave their lives (martyrs) for the faith.
Bible Verse
- (Revelation 6:9) Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs When He opened
the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been
slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Activity
- Look up these words in the dictionary: epiphany, martyr, catechism
- Memorize and sing the song, Twelve
Days of Christmas, and use the song to play the "memory and
forfeits" game enjoyed by children long ago.
Advent Calendar
Music
Resources
