Nine days before Christmas

Right now we are in the process of celebrating the nine days before Christmas by hearing early morning masses popularly called simbang gabi, which will culminate with the midnight mass known as Misa del Gallo. After that we observed what was once known as the twelve days after Christmas that ended on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. Then the church made the Epiphany a movable feast commemorated on the first Sunday of January that does not fall on the New Year. This coming January, the first Sunday coincides with the New Year and so the Feast of the Three Kings will be celebrated on the second Sunday, thus extending the days after Christmas from the traditional 12 to 13, so even the song The Twelve Days of Christmas is no longer applicable every Christmas. That song has an interesting history.

From 1558 to 1829, the people in England were not allowed full religious freedom. That was how The Twelve Days of Christmas was written. It was actually a secret catechism that could be sung without risk of persecution. The song had two levels of interpretation for it had hidden symbols known only to the members of the church. Everything mentioned in the carol had a double meaning. Here is the secret interpretation:

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testament.

3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.

4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.

5. The five gold rings recall the torah (law), the first five books of the Old Testament.

6. The six geese a-laying stab for the six days of creation.

7. Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.

8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.

9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Spirit.

10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of belief in the Apostle's Creed.

That is one account circulating on the origins of what is a perfectly harmless and very popular Christmas song. True or not, it reminds us of what we all take for granted – the freedom to worship. The problem we are having with world terrorism is partly religious. The sad part is that it is not a problem that can be solved by force. We must have freedom of worship. Religion cannot be enforced. To enforce one’s religious beliefs on others is contrary to what all major religions teach. We must love all our fellowmen and we must respect their religious convictions.

The struggle for religious rights should open, not close, our eyes to all other legal rights.