12 Days of Christmas

12 days of Christmas - A hidden message

Over the Christmas season we will be including a series of activities for the family that are linked to the hidden messages within the traditional Christmas song, the 12 Days of Christmas.  It is suggested that it is a hidden catechism. Each line includes a clue to a key truth about the Christian.  The 'true love' represents God Himself and the 'me' represents every baptised person.  There are different accounts about what is the first day, we will take Christmas Day as our 1st day, and include activities for the 1st and 2nd day.

1st Day of Christmas
The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. In Isaiah 9:1-7, 1st reading at Midnight Mass he is described as Mighty Counsellor, Prince of Peace.  He came to bring Peace on earth - for papal reflection in a encyclical (letter)  by John XXIII on Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty
Colouring of Baby Jesus in manger and Jesus after the resurrection 

2nd Day of Christmas
The two turtle doves represent the two testaments in the Bible which tell us the story of God's people which we listen to in the Liturgy of the Word and which we can reflect on.  This year there is the opportunity to have a daily email message to read the Gospels in a year.