The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas to most of us, the list of strange gifts repeated in the “Twelve Days of Christmas” is just a child’s nonsense song, while to others it suggests a mystery woven into folklore. From 1558-1829 English Catholics were not allowed by law to practice their faith either publicly or privately. It is thought that
it could have been written as a catechism song to help children memorize the tenets of their faith. The “true love” is not that of an earthly lover but God Himself. The “me” refers to every baptized Catholic.
On the First Day of Christmas my true love gave to me
a partridge in a pear tree.
“A
Partridge in a Pear Tree”
9"x12" 2004
Polymer clay, paper, beads, feathers and metal leaf
(sold)
The partridge in the pear tree is Jesus Christ on the cross. He is represented as the mother partridge, feigning injury, to serve as a decoy from threatening predators.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.”
Matthew 23:37
On the Third Day of Christmas my true love gave to me;
Three French hens,
“Three French Hens ”
12"x22" 2005
Polymer clay, paper, beads and metal leaf
The three French hens are thought to represent the three theological virtues mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;”
It may also refer to the martyrdom of the three holy virgins; Faith, Hope and Charity, and their widowed mother, St. Sophia, during the reign of Hadrian.
On the Sixth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me;
Six geese a-laying,
“Six Geese”
18"x22"
2005
Polymer clay, paper, beads, feathers and metal leaf
(sold)
The six geese refer to the six days of creation as described in the book of Genesis that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the World.