Considered one of the most recorded Christmas songs of all time, the story of The Twelve Days of Christmas is quite an interesting one. Before we dive in, as a family, spend a few minutes listening to this beautiful piano solo. Now, listen again and see if you can sing all the verses correctly. You can click the highlighted link and access the lyrics if you need them. Often regarded as a cumulative song, The Twelve Days of Christmas is written so that each verse builds on the previous verses. While they may be annoying, cumulative songs are excellent teaching tools for children as they sharpen memory and sequencing skills, increase attention span, and lay a foundation for early language skills and vocabulary. Along with The Twelve Days of Christmas, other cumulative songs include Old Macdonald Had a Farm and I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.
No one is exactly sure when the Twelve Days of Christmas song originated. The version most similar to the one sung today was published in 1909 by Frederic Austin, a baritone singer who was well-known for his opera performance and compositions. A little over a hundred years earlier, however, a children’s poetry book, Mirth without Mischief, was published which included an earlier version of the song. Using the link to Mirth without Mischief above, read the lyrics and compare them to today’s lyrics. You can scroll through the song by flipping to the right. Parents, explain to your children that the lower case “s” as it looks very similar to our modern “f”. Did you notice the “colley birds” of day 4? A colley (or colly) bird means ‘black as coal or soot’ and refers to a Eurasian Blackbird. In today’s song, we sing about “calling birds”, which is a general reference to birds that sing or chirp joyfully, but the original lyrics are thought to be about the blackbird. Just for fun, did you know that the “five gold rings” or “five golden rings” originally may have referred to birds as well? Many historians believe that the gold rings refer to European Goldfinches or Ring-Neck Pheasants. There is a fun theory circulating saying that The Twelve Days of Christmas focused on different types of birds that were common in Medieval times. Interestingly, the birds were often tied to food given as gifts, with most considered a delicacy. The American Ornithological Society explains the birds and their meanings here. Hidden meanings about birds and culinary habits of the early 19th century is only one of the theories about the numerical lyrics of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Whether birds or a variety of gifts, ask children to estimate how many total gifts were given over the 12 days of Christmas (364). While it is possible to count them using manipulatives or household items, there are much easier ways! Kids vs. Life shows younger ones a pattern to find the answer, while Tipping Point Math helps older ones apply Pasquel’s Triangle to solve the mystery. Another fun math project is to ask kids to guess how much money they think it would cost to give these 12 gifts to Grandma. ($51,476.12). Learn more about how the cost was determined here. The PNC Christmas Price Index® is a fun tradition that began over 40 years ago as a marketing tool to engage clients. What began as a “wild idea” has grown into one of PNC’s most popular economic reports as well as a highlight of the holiday season for bankers, economists, and students. Ask children to share their “wild ideas” that may help them sell or promote their favorite toy or activity. Spend time discussing their toy/activity sales idea(s). If marketing is an area of interest to your kids, here are some links to start your “rabbit trail”: Kidpreneurs, Young Entrepreneurs Share Their Stories, Mensa for Kids, 4-P’s of Marketing, and KidVester’s Entrepreneurship for Kids and Teens.
For generations, another popular theory about the meaning behind the lyrics to The Twelve Days of Christmas has comforted many faithful believers. It is thought that the tenets of Christian faith are hidden within The Twelve Days of Christmas. Memorized as a catechism, it is thought the song’s repetition of “a partridge in a pear tree” is a reminder that the foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ (the partridge) and the cross (the pear tree). Other core beliefs thought to be referenced in the song include: 2 turtle doves point to the Old and New Testaments; 3 French Hens symbolize the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; 4 Calling Birds represent the Four Gospels; 5 Golden Rings point to the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch or Torah); 6 Geese A-laying are to remind us of the six days of creation; 7 Swans A-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ; 8 Maids A-milking display the eight beatitudes; 9 Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; 10 Lords A-leaping point us to the Ten Commandments; 11 Pipers Piping are said to represent the eleven faithful apostles; and the 12 Drummers Drumming point to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed. While the historical significance is debated, there is something beautiful in the application of the lyrics to our faith. If you would like to learn more about the Twelve Days and their religious meaning, Cross Catholic and Christianity.com explore this idea more thoroughly.
But, let’s look back at The Twelve days of Christmas title page from the children’s book, Mirth without Mischief. What do you notice at the top of the page under the poem’s title? (Sung at King Pepin’s Ball). Have you ever heard of King Pepin? Pepin, also known as Pepin the Short was the father of Charlemagne, a bold warrior who sought to unite Western Europe and convert them to Christianity. Although bold and sometimes overzealous, Charlemagne was also beloved for leading (not just sending) his soldiers into battle, as well as prioritizing education and other reforms. Khan Academy offers an excellent introduction to Charlemagne. While lesser known, King Pepin had the reputation for modeling strong leadership for his sons. Along with leadership skills, King Pepin also valued helping and protecting the people under his rule. Watch this short video to learn more about Pepin the Short. Brief History has a longer overview that is perfect for older children. Talk with your children about the leadership skills they think King Pepin needed to accomplish what he did. Spend time learning about leadership skills: PBS’ Together We Can for Younger Children, Edu Seed’s Little Leaders, and the Center for Creative Leadership for older students are good starting points. Children of all ages can learn ways to develop leadership skills at home, school, or church. Engage older children by discussing the leadership traits that they need to develop in their lives, as well as the ones that you, as a parent, can support and nurture. It is also valuable to ask teens to help you identify leadership traits that as a parent, you may need to further develop. While this depends on the maturity and relationship you have with your child, it is a conversation that helps build trust and nurtures a child's confidence as they transition to adulthood.
Before we finish our study into The Twelve Days of Christmas carol. Let’s take a moment to consider the timing of the days. In today’s culture, we begin planning and celebrating Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Let’s be honest, who can resist the deep discounts on the most prized gift of the season. Other families may choose to wait to begin planning until mid-December, close to December 13th without realizing that they have fallen into the pattern of 12 days of pre-Christmas. But in the historical Christian context of this song, the 12 days of Christmas begins on December 25th and ends January 6th. Also known as the Epiphany, the Greek word for revelation, these 12 days are a celebration of the birth of Jesus and the magi’s visit to the Christ Child (Matthew 2:1-12). Epiphany remains a special celebration in many liturgical churches with the Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican churches all having their own traditions to honor the birth of Christ. For many of us, celebrating Epiphany is not something we have done within our tradition or denomination. If you would like to learn more about the Epiphany, here are some kid-friendly options: Twinkle Teaching Resources, Catholic Saints and Feasts-Epiphany, Root &Vine Christmas isn’t Over Yet, and just for fun, the Kid’s Tudors Twelve Days of Christmas at English Heritage UK.
Thank you for joining me for this exciting journey behind the lyrics of The Twelve Days of Christmas. As I began researching this unit study, I was amazed at the richness of the lyrics and the diverse beliefs behind them. From bird delicacies to tenets of the Christian faith, there is much to consider along with a rich abundance of rabbit trails one may explore. It is my sincere hope that this unit study inspires you and your family to learn more about the traditions of Christmas. Please feel free to reach out to me and share your family experiences or suggest topics for future unit studies. I would love to hear from you at dcrawford@rainbowresource.com!
