Today is not the First Day of Christmas but some interest thoughts occurred to me as I reflect upon this familiar Christmas jingle. (See: http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html // Quote from this web site: “Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th but the following day is considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th).”)
The history of this jingle goes back to a time when Christians celebrated Christmas in secret due to the religious conflict in their society, war, and the persecution of Christians. The odd gifts were coded messages of the real meaning of Christmas. (Quote from web site: “The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children. However, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn.”) None the less, here are my reflective thoughts.
A side from spiritual, here are a few interpretive ideas from the 12 Days of Christmas song.
Firsts are always the most exciting. The first day of Christmas gift is a partridge in a pear tree. What a first gift! The receiving of this gift is certainly a metaphor of Christ’s birth*. Remember your first date? Remember your first kiss? Remember the first time you drove a car? Many first are remembered best. This first gift must have been hard to top. Never the less, it is being first that sets it a part from the other gifts.
(*From the web site: Quote: “The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)”)
Secondly, I have a question. What did "my true love" ever do with all of those strange gifts? What would you do with them? It gives new meaning to public storage! This series of gifts, like so many gifts today, are stored and neglected. Over time, they make great garage sale items. Perhaps what makes these 12 Days of Christmas gifts worth while is the sentimental value placed upon them of the understanding of their spiritual metaphoric significance. It is very hard to “throw away” those sentimental items, isn’t it?
Third, how would the giver of such gifts ever top these gifts next Christmas? You've done it too. You have given gifts that you wonder, how can I top that one? The gift is so extravagant or such a perfect fit, you will have a hard time doing better next year.
Well, you wonder, what's the point? My silly ramblings do have a point. That being said, here are three principles to consider when looking for a gift.
Never give your best gift first unless you intent to give gifts the eleven other days of Christmas. Perhaps the 12 Days of Christmas followed by eleven other days because he had to top day one, day two and so on!
Never give a gift that has the potential of becoming someone's "white elephant" gift exchange or garage sale item next year.
Never out-give yourself. Don't give a gift that you can not improve upon. It must have been hard for the giver of the 12 Days gifts to top these gifts.
Perhaps the best advice I offer is to make the gift practical. Think for a moment if you would use it? If so, go ahead and give it. Another word of advice for those who are thinking about someone in the family; you should give something that you can share or do together like dinner of a game you can share together later. The most practical gift of the 12 days of Christmas is perhaps the “eight maids a milking.” Something to eat is perhaps the best gift!
One more idea is to make something not just something you buy. The 12 Days gifts were mostly purchased but one gift that may mean the most to the ‘true love' is something made. In this case it must have been the “five golden rings!”
Don't stress yourself this year. More than half of all gifts purchased this year will be on a charge card this 18% interests. Don't create a crisis about bearing gifts. In the case of the wise men, they each brought something that was undoubtedly from their own possessions and the gifts they brought were practical! See: http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/wisemen.html // ("The record does not specifically say that there were three, or that they were kings; this is assumed by some from the number and types of gifts that were given to Jesus (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). The gifts reflected the aspects of Christ's nature: gold to a king, myrrh to one who will die, and incense, as homage to a God. None of the Church Fathers suggested that these men were kings, but there was obvious wealth involved. It is possible that the wealth was theirs, or that they were religious or scholarly envoys of royalty in a distant land.")
