The song the twelve days of christmas tells you about it but on the Modern Calender, It doesn't say when it ends.
2006-07-05 11:11:21 · 8 answers · asked by gialucchese 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25th and end on January 6th... however January 5th is considered the 12th night... anyway, they originated during the 16th century when there were religious wars and people weren't allowed to express their religious beliefs; therefore, they used different objects to represent certain things in the Christian/Catholic faith. For example the partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the pear tree is heaven!! and then the two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments, which make the Bible. The three french hens are the three theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love. The four calling birds are the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...The Five Gold rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, which is also known as the Pentateuch, or Torah in the Jewish religion. The 6 geese a-laying represents the 6 days that God took to create the world (on the 7th day he rested and proclaimed it the holy day, which is known as Sunday, and Christians normally go to church on Sundays) The seven swans a swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us after he ascended into heaven. The seven gifts are: right judgment, reverence, wisdom, fear of the Lord, courage, understanding, and knowledge. The eight maids a-milking are the 8 Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). The 9 Ladies Dancing are the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) The ten lords a-leaping stand for the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). The 11 pipers piping stand for the 11 faithful apostles, or disciples. There were 12 disciples, but the 12th, Judas betrayed Jesus. Last the 12 Drummers Drumming stand for the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed.
2006-07-05 11:39:09 · answer #1 · answered by Whitney 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Everyone else here has got it right! The biggest misconception is that the 12 days of Christmas happen BEFORE December 25. As a sidenote, the liturgical (church service) season of Christmas (in the Catholic Church) doesn't begin until sundown on December 24 and continues until the third Sunday after Christmas. So yes, the 12 Days fit in to this model even today.
2006-07-06 18:19:34 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Twelve days relates to Eastern Christianity; ends on sixth of January!
2006-07-06 20:38:12 · answer #3 · answered by Conservative 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jan 6 ends the 12 days of Christmas. From somewhere in my background and it is foggy, I remember being told that Jan 6 is Little Christmas. I think it is also of Italian background.
2006-07-05 18:17:13 · answer #4 · answered by starting over 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it starts on christmas and runs till jan.6 which is supposally when the magi arrived at the manager. some cultures didn't give out presents till then becuase thats when the first gifts were given.
2006-07-05 19:36:42 · answer #5 · answered by theirishunicorn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it starts dec.25 th and ends on the 6th of jan.
thaats all i really know.
sorry i couldn't help more
2006-07-10 17:17:15 · answer #6 · answered by DENISE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In addition to what others have written, it's called Epiphany.
2006-07-10 18:10:11 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they have something to do with Jesus, of course.
2006-07-05 18:35:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋