Twelve Days of Christmas Representation

No one is exactly sure where the twelve gifts from the "Twelve Days of Christmas" came from.  There are many theories - the most popular being that it was written in England as a code to help young Catholic children learn about their faith.  In this interpretation each gift represents something connected with Jesus Christ and His mission.  What about taking it and putting a different spin on it.  Here is an LDS version.  Take one verse leading up from the 12 days before Christmas.

A partridge in a pear tree: The partridge represents Jesus Christ, who said He would shelter His chicks under His wings as a mother partridge does (Luke 13:34).  The family could make a list of Jesus's qualities and personality traits (compassion, forgiving, etc.).  Discuss how these attributes would improve our own lives.

Two Turtle Doves: These have been thought to represent the Old and New Testament.  We can take that one step further and talk about the Bible and Book of Mormon.  Talk about how all scriptures together testify of Jesus Christ.  Have family members find scriptures in each of the standard works testifying of Christ.

Three French Hens: These represent the three kings bearing gifts or they can stand for the three Christlike attributes of faith hope and charity.  Read 1 Corinthians 13:13 and Moroni 10:20-23.  Set goals of what you could do as a family or as individuals to better develop on of these attributes.

Four Calling Birds: These represent the four gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John), because each of these disciples call out to the world through their testimonies of Jesus Christ.  Look up "Gospels" in the Bible Dictionary; look at the chart that depicts harmony in the gospels and notice how several of these four men testified of some of the same events from Christ's life.  Talk about the principle of having more than one witness, found in 2 Corinthians 13:1 and Ether 5:4.  You may also want to discuss testifying or testimony during this time.

Five Gold Rings: These symbolize the first five books of the Old Testament (known in some religions as the Torah or the Pentateuch).  Talk about how Christ led Moses and the children of Israel to the Promised Land and especially discuss the many miracles that happened along the way.  Discuss other miracles that Christ performed and look up corresponding scriptures.  You can also talk about miracles you have experienced in you own lives.

Six Geese A-laying: These stand for the six days it took Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to create the earth.  Read the account in Genesis 1.  Have younger children draw pictures of the creation.

Seven Swans a-swimming: These represent the seven gifts of the Spirit, although in LDS tradition there are many more than just seven.  Make a list of spiritual gifts from Doctrine and Covenants 46: 11-33, 1 Corinthians 12:12, and Moroni 10:8-18.  Try to identify strengths you have and how you can improve upon them.

Eight Maids a-milking: These stand for the eight Beatitudes, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 5 and 3 Nephi 12.  Discuss the Beatitudes in your family and how you can apply them to your lives.

Nine Ladies Dancing: These represent the nine fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22.  On a piece of paper folded in half, write on one side family members' ideas of how they feel when the Spirit is present, and on the other side how they feel when the Spirit it not present.  Discuss what you could do as a family to have the Spirit dwell in your house.

Ten Lords a-leaping: These signify the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20 and Mosiah 12-13.  Discuss each commandment.  Have each family member share an experience in which they chose to follow one of the commandments even though it may not have been the easiest choice.

Eleven Pipers Piping: These symbolize the eleven faithful apostles in Christ's original Church.  See if you can name all of them.  Talk about who these men were before they were called as apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen; Matthew was a tax collector.  Why did Jesus call men from such humble circumstances?  How did these men learn and grow through their experiences with Christ?

Twelve Drummers Drumming: In the original version, the twelve drummers drumming represent the twelve points of the Apostle's Creed (an early statement of belief accepted by the Catholic Church).  For the LDS version they can represent the twelve living apostles in Christ's restored church.  Make a matching game of the 15 living apostles and prophet's pictures and 15 with their names and have the children match them up.

(This was taken from LDS Living November 2012 with some of my own revisions and additions.)