Happy Twelfth Night and Day
Today, I had a very good conversation from someone who shared a bit about her Eastern Christian views. As someone who enjoys other cultures and hearing about other religions, I was not about to pass up the chance to get insight on yet another religion... If you want to learn something about the holiday or the song, it is well worth the read.
Twelfth Night is a holiday in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany, or Twelfth Day, and is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany".
* * * * * * * * * * * *
These are the twelve days beginning on night of Christmas (December 25) and ending on the day of 6th January as Epiphany begins on (January 6). In the Middle Ages this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season.
Some people give gifts, feast and otherwise celebrate on each of the twelve days rather than just on one day at Christmas.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
During the twelve days of Christmas, traditional roles were often relaxed, masters waited on their servants, men were allowed to dress as women, and women as men. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels. Some of these traditions were adapted from older, pagan customs, including the Roman Saturnalia. Some also have an echo in modern day pantomime where traditionally authority is mocked and the principal male lead is played by a woman, while the leading older female character, or 'Dame' is played by a man.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
All of this led to the Christmas carol sometime in the 16th century. That song many of you may know as the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The last verse is:
"On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
eleven pipers piping,
ten lords a-leaping,
nine ladies dancing,
eight maids a-milking,
seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying,
five golden rings;
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree."
Some Christians arbitrarily assign symbolism to the gifts in the song. One of the most common versions of these assigned meanings is:
The 'partridge in a pear tree' is Jesus (see Luke 13:34)
The 'two turtle doves' are the Old and New Testaments
The 'three French hens' are the three virtues, faith, hope, and love
The 'four calling birds' are the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; or their Gospels
'Five golden rings' are the first five books of the Bible, or the Pentateuch
'Six geese a-laying' refer to the six days of the Creation
'Seven swans a-swimming' are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
'Eight maids a-milking' are the eight Beatitudes
'Nine ladies dancing' are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
'Ten lords a-leaping' are the Ten Commandments
'Eleven pipers piping' are the eleven faithful Apostles
'Twelve drummers drumming' are the twelve doctrines in the Apostles' Creed
Last but not least is the cost:
It breaks down to:
One Partridge in a Pear Tree: $104.99 ($15.00 Partridge, $89.99 Pear Tree)
Two Turtle Doves: $40.00 ($20.00 each)
Three French Hens: $45.00 ($15.00 each)
Four Calling Birds: $399.96 ($99.99 each)
Five Gold Rings: $325.00 ($65.00 each)
Six Geese-a-Laying: $300.00 ($50.00 each)
Seven Swans-a-Swimming: $4,200.00 ($600.00 each)
Eight Maids-a-Milking: $41.20 ($5.15 each)
Nine Ladies Dancing: $4,576.14 ($508.46 each)
10 Lords-a-Leaping: $4,039.08 ($403.91 each)
11 Pipers Piping: $2,053.20 ($186.66 each)
12 Drummers Drumming: $2,224.30 ($185.36 each)
Total Christmas Price Index: $18,348.87
"Core" index, excluding swans: $14,148.87
True cost of Christmas in song: $72,608.02 (including 364 total gifts)
According to the economic group (PNC Advisors) that tracks this data, this is an increase of 9.5% over last year. Here's a link to a MSN article that validates this.
All very interesting stuff that I learned today (except the financial piece) from a chat session that I had online today with someone that I do not know. In all fairness, most of the facts were verified prior to being posted here.
Twelfth Night is a holiday in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany, or Twelfth Day, and is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany".
* * * * * * * * * * * *
These are the twelve days beginning on night of Christmas (December 25) and ending on the day of 6th January as Epiphany begins on (January 6). In the Middle Ages this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season.
Some people give gifts, feast and otherwise celebrate on each of the twelve days rather than just on one day at Christmas.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
During the twelve days of Christmas, traditional roles were often relaxed, masters waited on their servants, men were allowed to dress as women, and women as men. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels. Some of these traditions were adapted from older, pagan customs, including the Roman Saturnalia. Some also have an echo in modern day pantomime where traditionally authority is mocked and the principal male lead is played by a woman, while the leading older female character, or 'Dame' is played by a man.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
All of this led to the Christmas carol sometime in the 16th century. That song many of you may know as the Twelve Days of Christmas.
The last verse is:
"On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
eleven pipers piping,
ten lords a-leaping,
nine ladies dancing,
eight maids a-milking,
seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying,
five golden rings;
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree."
Some Christians arbitrarily assign symbolism to the gifts in the song. One of the most common versions of these assigned meanings is:
The 'partridge in a pear tree' is Jesus (see Luke 13:34)
The 'two turtle doves' are the Old and New Testaments
The 'three French hens' are the three virtues, faith, hope, and love
The 'four calling birds' are the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; or their Gospels
'Five golden rings' are the first five books of the Bible, or the Pentateuch
'Six geese a-laying' refer to the six days of the Creation
'Seven swans a-swimming' are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
'Eight maids a-milking' are the eight Beatitudes
'Nine ladies dancing' are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
'Ten lords a-leaping' are the Ten Commandments
'Eleven pipers piping' are the eleven faithful Apostles
'Twelve drummers drumming' are the twelve doctrines in the Apostles' Creed
Last but not least is the cost:
It breaks down to:
One Partridge in a Pear Tree: $104.99 ($15.00 Partridge, $89.99 Pear Tree)
Two Turtle Doves: $40.00 ($20.00 each)
Three French Hens: $45.00 ($15.00 each)
Four Calling Birds: $399.96 ($99.99 each)
Five Gold Rings: $325.00 ($65.00 each)
Six Geese-a-Laying: $300.00 ($50.00 each)
Seven Swans-a-Swimming: $4,200.00 ($600.00 each)
Eight Maids-a-Milking: $41.20 ($5.15 each)
Nine Ladies Dancing: $4,576.14 ($508.46 each)
10 Lords-a-Leaping: $4,039.08 ($403.91 each)
11 Pipers Piping: $2,053.20 ($186.66 each)
12 Drummers Drumming: $2,224.30 ($185.36 each)
Total Christmas Price Index: $18,348.87
"Core" index, excluding swans: $14,148.87
True cost of Christmas in song: $72,608.02 (including 364 total gifts)
According to the economic group (PNC Advisors) that tracks this data, this is an increase of 9.5% over last year. Here's a link to a MSN article that validates this.
All very interesting stuff that I learned today (except the financial piece) from a chat session that I had online today with someone that I do not know. In all fairness, most of the facts were verified prior to being posted here.