Discovering Deeper Meaning in Christmas Carols

Dale Ahlquist, author and co-founder of Chesterton Academy high school in Minneapolis,  said in one of his talks about Chesterton, “Catholics often know the answer before they know the question.”  For cradle Catholics this quote is true and is very apropos to the Christmas season.

Most cradle Catholics learn various Catholic traditions and practices at a young age.  We learn songs and prayers, repeat the words, and keep the traditions.  But how many of us really understand what the words actually mean?

During the advent season, for instance, we often sing the song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  But how many of us know that Emmanuel is a Hebrew name meaning, “God is with us?”

Many Catholics may not realize it, but there is a deeper spiritual meaning woven into the words of many of our favorite Christmas Carols.

Depth of Tradition Embedded in Carols

Christmas Carols are a form of oral tradition.  And many of the carols sung at Christmas have origins dating back hundreds of years.

Carols were, in fact, a method of teaching hundreds of years ago.   As such, many carols contain deep spiritual meaning.

For example, the 12 days of Christmas are the time from Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  The Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” is based on this.  And the words of the song have a meaning that goes beyond the pictures they paint.

The song begins with the gift of a partridge in a pear tree on the first day of Christmas. This is significant because the partridge symbolizes Christ and the pear tree symbolizes His wooden cross.  Such symbolism continues throughout the song.

Two turtle doves signify the Old and New Testaments each deeply connected to each other.

Three French hens denotes the three Catholic virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Four calling birds represent the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Five golden rings are in reference to the Torah making up the first 5 books of the Old Testament.

Six geese a-laying signifies the six days of creation by God the Father.

Seven swans a-swimming symbolize the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  These are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Eight maids a-milking is in reference to the Beatitudes preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Nine ladies dancing symbolizes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  These are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Ten lords a-leaping references the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The eleven pipers piping represents the eleven faithful apostles: Simon/Peter, Andew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the Less, Jude Thaddeus, and Simon.

The Twelve drummers drumming end the song and embody the twelve key doctrines recited in the Apostles’ Creed.

Listen for Deeper Meaning

Even some of the more secular songs have deeper meaning.

As a child, I did not like the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” whether it was sung or simply recited.  However, as I have gotten older, I appreciate what it means much more.

As title states, the poem is about St. Nickolas, not the more secular Santa Claus.  And the poem consistently references Saint Nicholas, never Santa Claus.

For example, take the line, “The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth.”  This verse, at face value, says St. Nick smokes.  However, I have found this simple line contains more meaning.

In 1823, when the poem was written, pipes were made of clay.  Since they had rather long necks, a stump of pipe means the neck of the pipe was broken.  A rich man would not use a broken pipe.  This suggests that St. Nicholas is a commoner, not rich enough to replace a broken pipe.

Actively listening to music to understand its complete message may take more effort.  But I have found it is worth it.

Beware of the Modern Grinches

Christmas music is very uplifting, especially when we understand a song’s meaning.  However, forces against God and his faithful attack this tradition.

There appears to be a concerted effort to talk people into giving up traditions – for their own good of course.  Back in 2017, Fox News reported that Christmas music is bad for your mental health.  A British psychologist was the source of this revelation.

Every year it seems, some new source publishes a similar piece trying to talk its readers out of listening to carols.  God only know how many have fallen prey to this assault.

Continue to Discover Why

After G. K. Chesterton converted to Catholicism, he wrote a great many works defending the faith.

Specific to Christmas he wrote, “The great majority of people will go on observing forms that cannot be explained; they will keep Christmas Day with Christmas gifts and Christmas benedictions; they will continue to do it; and someday suddenly wake up and discover why” (“On Christmas,” Generally Speaking).

As you listen to and sings songs and your favorite Christmas carols this year, and years to come, learn the deeper meaning imbedded in the lyrics.  Share them with your children and grandchildren.  Share them with your neighbors.  Help them discover why.