Faithful Living: The first 5 days of Christmas

By Joan Bay Klope

Remember when time dragged? When waiting created sheer agony? As a child, it seemed like Christmas would never arrive and we went to great lengths to count down the days in an effort to demonstrate the passage of time. Each year my mom would purchase an Advent calendar for our home and my brother and I took turns opening one tiny door each day. Sometimes we’d find a tiny trinket inside or a miniature piece of molded chocolate. In the fourth grade my classmates and I fashioned a giant paper chain from red and green construction paper that encircled the classroom. The classmate voted “best citizen” the day before was privileged to tear away a ring at the end of the chain the following morning.

Throughout the years the Klope house has seen its share of paper chains and Advent calendars. And while my children still eagerly anticipate Christmas, and have already begun leaving catalogs out with page corners bent to catch my attention, they are beginning to sound more like me these days.

“I can’t believe Christmas is almost here!” they’ve all declared to me as their own lives speed up with both the opportunities and obligations of young adulthood.

Throughout much of history kids in particular have eagerly anticipated holiday celebrations and perhaps the most famous countdown is demonstrated in the treasured song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” While we’ve always approached singing it as a method to test our memories or pass time on a holiday road trip, it is an English counting song that many music historians believe was written in the 1500s as a coded catechism for teaching the Catholic faith. When Catholics lost control of the English crown following the death of Queen Mary I in 1558, they also lost the freedom to openly practice their faith.

The verses are said to symbolize elements of basic doctrine, although there would have been no argument as they are compatible with the views of the Church of England. The period of Twelve Days, observed by many Protestants as well as Roman Catholics, historically begins on Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 6 when it is believed the Three Wise Men arrived to honor and present gifts to the newborn Jesus.

I certainly don’t possess a strong singing voice, but “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is one song I can sing with abandon. It’s one of my favorites, in fact, and there are some fun and easy family activities that work nicely to bring life and deeper understanding of the lyrics.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . a partridge in a pear tree.

The pear tree is said to symbolize the cross, the partridge Christ because a mother partridge will risk her life to save her offspring by luring predators away from her nest. I’ve yet to see a partridge at the local grocery store, but pears are abundant. Try combining your favorite cheeses with sliced pears, nuts, fresh bread and spiced tea for a weekend lunch.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . two turtle doves.

Doves remind us of the Old and New Testaments, but may also represent the doves that were required as an offering when a 13-year-old son was dedicated in an ancient temple. Because doves today represent peace, talk about ways to create peace in your household and neighborhood. It’s important to address the issue this time of year when family events, high expectations, and breaks in routine often produce unwelcome stresses.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . three French hens.

While the hens historically symbolize the Trinity, they may also stand for the virtues of faith, hope, and love. Day 3 may be the perfect time to try your hand at preparing Cornish game hens. They’re commonly found in the frozen food section and Emeril Legasse’s 5-star recipe, easily down loaded off the Food Network website, would make for a simple and deliciously themed meal.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . four calling birds.

These simple birds represent Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and their Gospel accounts of Christ’s life and ministry. Why not deepen the experience by grabbing your cell phone and giving a quick call to someone you’ve not talked with in sometime. “I’ve been thinking about you!” is a great gift to someone this holiday season.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . five golden rings.

These rings are said to represent the first five books of the Old Testament, called the Pentateuch. Consider giving each member of your immediate family a piece of paper on which they can record 5 favorite things: a Christmas memory, teacher, food, etc. It’ll make for a great conversation and help guide you toward some meaningful Christmas activities or gift giving.

We still have 7 additional days to honor, but no space left this week. We’ll do that next Saturday. In the meantime, embrace the rapid approach of Christmas by spotlighting some of these lovely traditions and incorporating a few into your own holiday planning. Faithful Living is often about deep, meaningful fun.