On the Tenth Day

I've racked my brain to try to figure out the intentions of what the song The 12 Days of Christmas means-the order of seven days of birds, then one day of work, then two days (ladies dancing and lords leaping) of festive activities perhaps? Then two days (pipers piping and drummers drumming) of possibly men going off to war. That's what I've come up with so far. Birds delivered for decoration and a feast, then the milk maid providing milk for the party, then the party, then sending the men to war led by the pipe and drum.

Different sites would assign Christian symbolism to the numbers of days but I'm not too impressed with the interpretation. Why? Well, they focus on the numbers instead of the object (with the exception of the partridge). A good example of the missed opportunity of a Christian interpretation falls on day two. On the second day of Christmas my true love sends two turtle doves. The "Christian" interpretation talks of the second day meaning the Old and New Testament. It completely disregards the turtle doves, the sacrifice Joseph and Mary took to the temple when the infant Jesus was eight days old so he could be dedicated according to the gospel of Luke. The Law really meant for a family to take a lamb, but if the family was too poor, the Law allowed for them to take two doves or two pigeons instead. But Luke, the Gospel writer is smart. He gives hints throughout his story making a case for who Jesus is. In this infant narrative, the Jews would have known what the Law required. And so even though the family brings what is allowed for the poor, the infant as the Lamb is brought in and dedicated-a strong metaphor for giving over to God, a sacrifice without death and without it being taken away.

This time.

I've been at this for ten days now. And I went back to see my thoughts on the actual day two. Geez. I'm kind of embarrassed about it now. So maybe those powers that be which assigned 12 days of reflection on Christ's birth had a good idea. Maybe we need to have this time to put aside silly notions and ruminate on the gift of Jesus Christ-what his birth might mean, why Luke and Matthew chose to share it in their gospels. Why the Christian year assigns 12 whole days of Christmas instead of only one.

And why is it that most people don't even know about the 12 days except for the song.

Happy Day Ten, world. May your leaping be to good things.