Song

s
of the
Season
A fresh look at Christmas carols

12
days

The

of

christmas

twelve
drummers drumming

twelve drummers
drumming
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell
On the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the
right hand of the Father.
6. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
7. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
8. The holy Church,
9. The communion of saints,
10. The forgiveness of sins,
11. The resurrection of the body,
12. And life everlasting.

eleven
pipers piping

eleven pipers
piping
1) Simon Peter,
2) Andrew,
3) James,
4) John,
5) Philip,
6) Bartholomew,

7) Matthew,
8) Thomas,
9) James bar Alphaeus,
10) Simon the Zealot,
11) Judas bar James.

eleven pipers
piping
Jamesbeheaded by Herod (Acts 12)
Philipcrucified (AD 54)
Matthewaxed in Ethiopia (AD 60)
Andrewcrucified
Petercrucified upside down in Rome
Bartholomewcruelly beaten & crucified in India
Thomaspierced by a spear and killed also in India (AD 72).
Simon the Zealotcrucified in Britain (AD 74)
Thaddeus He was crucified (AD 72)
James, the son of Alphaeusbeaten to death at the age of 94
John, the beloved-boiled alive and imprisoned on Patmos

ten lords
a-leaping

ten lords
a-leaping
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

You shall have no other gods before me

Do not make an idol
Do not take Gods name in vain
Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy
Honor your father and mother
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not bear false witness
Do not covet

nine ladies
dancing

nine ladies
dancing
1) love
2) joy
3) peace
4) patience
5) kindness
6) goodness
7) faithfulness
8) gentleness
9) self-control.

nine ladies
dancing
Gala$ans 5:19-26

Now the works of the esh are evident, which are: adultery, fornica9on, uncleanness,
lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, conten9ons, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selsh
ambi9ons, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of
which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in 9me past, that those who prac9ce
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are
Christs have crucied the esh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.

eight maids
a-milking

eight maids
a-milking
Ma0hew 5:3-10
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be lled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.

seven swans
a-swimming

seven swans
a-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1) prophecy
2) service
3) teaching
4) encouragement
5) giving
6) leading, and
7) mercy

seven swans
a-swimming
Romans 12:6-8

6 We have dierent giZs, according to the grace given to each of us. If your giZ is
prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then
serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it
is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do
it cheerfully.

six geese
a-laying

six geese
a-laying
Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:31
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening
and the morning were the sixth day.

five golden
rings

five gold
rings
1) Genesis
2) Exodus
3) Leviticus
4) Numbers
5) Deuteronomy

four calling
birds

four calling
birds
MATTHEW:
MARK:
LUKE:
JOHN:

Jesus, the King of Kings

Jesus, the Suffering Servant
Jesus, the Anointed Man
Jesus, the Divine Messiah

three
french hens

three
french hens
Ma0hew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had
come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and
worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented giZs to Him:
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

two turtle
doves

two turtle
doves
Ma`hew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulll them.
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
31

partridge in
a pear tree

partridge in
a pear tree
Luke 13:34
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How oZen would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen
does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ."

John 10:14-15

I am the good shepherd

I lay down my life for the sheep.

12
days

The

of

christmas

Song
s
of the
Season
A fresh look at Christmas carols