12 Days

Another goodie from the Manila Bulletin’s De Leon’s Den…

Twelve Days before Christmas
By Joey de Leon

From today is exactly twelve days before Christmas. On this note, did you ever wonder what gave the composer of "Twelve Days Before Christmas" the idea and inspiration to write this piece? And who originally sung this, a boy or a girl? Who was the "true love?" Well, pakialaman natin. I believe that the storyteller in the song is a she and the gift–giver was the man, probably a hunter or a farmer. Take note that on the first seven days, with the exception of the "five golden rings," he gave a variety of fowls and game birds. What happened to the last five days? Maybe, his lady love developed bird flu! Or maybe, the composer just ran out of something to say. Actually, the eighth day offering, the milking maids, are quite related pa to farming. But for the next four days, it’s clear that our lover boy just threw a party in the farm with the ladies and lords dancing and the drummers and pipers providing music. A clear case of nagkatamaran na.

1. True Love refers to God
2. Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3. French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues.
4. Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5. Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch," which gives the history of man’s fall from grace
6. Geese A–laying refers to the six days of creation
7. Swans A–swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8. Maids A–Milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9. Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10. Lords A–leaping refers to the ten commandments
11. Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12. Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed
    
    

Just a few more days before the big day… rush, rush, rush!