holiday countdown

Contrary to popular belief, the theory that the lyrics to “The 12 Days of Christmas” are coded references to Christianity, has been debunked. 

While it posits that the song was written to help Christians learn and pass on the tenets of their faith while avoiding persecution - the song really isn't a coded primer on Christianity. 

celebrating online, 2020

Forever the irreverent resisters, wonder | wander | women created our own version this year to celebrate our reunion Stateside - finally, COVID be damned! The Countdown begins. . . .now. 

Pentatonix version of 12 Days of Xmas

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . .a partridge in a pear tree.

The partridge in a pear tree of course represents Mahala - only and fave spawn of Issa. Whose arrival Stateside is the best Christmas gift for us both.

In Christianity, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young. Which is definitely not our thing - no sacrificial lamb on our plate, thank you.

Mahala in NYC, Summer 2018

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . .two turtledoves.

These twin birds represent the both of us of course - cozy as can be in each other's embrace. Finally able to hug and kiss after being double vaccinated.

Some believe the carol finds the complete story of Judeo-Christian faith and God’s plan for the world. The doves are the biblical roadmap - the Old and New Testaments - that is available to everyone.

together in NYC, Summer 2018

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . .three French hens.

These birds represent faith, hope, and love - what Mahala and I have definitely had to hold on to. Nothing like the dark uncertainty of COVID looming over our lives as we live on separate continents.

This gift hearkens back to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the apostle Paul. Love is definitely indispensable - now more than ever.

Edgewater NJ, Winter 2019

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . .four calling birds.

Our gospel truth bears scant relation to those of misogynistic male monsters perpetuated and fictionalized by the Church through the years.

One of the easiest facets of the song’s code to figure out - these fowl [foul?] are the four [fake?] Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

our island in the sun, December 2018

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . .five gold rings.

For us the gift of the rings represents our own stories - our source and foundation. On major aspects of life - creation, departure, law, history, covenant.

The tradition among believers has always been that Moses personally wrote the five books of the Pentateuch or the Old Testament. In fact, the Pentateuch has often been referred to as the biography of Moses - with Genesis as a prologue. 

moon over the ridge, Union City NJ

On and on the lyrics go. . . .as the Christmas carol takes repeated loops and tests our patience and the poor carolers.

We just wish to point out that if Christians were so restricted from practicing their faith that they had to conceal messages in a song, they also wouldn’t be able to celebrate Christmas in the first place - much less sing Christmas carols.

Xmas with our babies, 2021

La la la! Happy holidays to all - whatever your beliefs are! Let us all celebrate with love and light.