Wow, this article about the The Twelve Days of Christmas is really interesting. It delves into the idea that the song about the 12 days of Christmas goes back to the 16th and was a mnemonic device to teach kids about the tenets of the Catholic faith. They say people don’t know if that’s really its origin, but it’s a pretty interesting take on the whole thing

UPDATE!

Also, I came across this today about the 12 days of Christmas, and some demonic activity:

The ancient fear engendered by the failing of the light shaped a striking legend that continued into Greek culture when the Greeks became Christian. It’s the story of the Kallikantzaroi–ugly monsters of chaos who, during most of the year, are forced underground. During the 12 days of Christmas, the demons are said to roam freely on the earth’s surface. They are known more for malicious practical joking than any real harm–braiding horse’s tails, souring milk, putting out the home fire in a particularly indelicate manner. To scare them away, the Greeks kept their Christmas log burning. They also burned old shoes, believing the smell would repel the creatures.

Any child born during the twelve days was in danger of becoming a Kallikantzaroi. The antidote? Binding the baby in tresses of garlic or straw, or singeing the child’s toenails!

Since I was born during that time period, I suppose that means that I’m eligible to become one of these demons. Some day…

Also, it has this to say about the Egyptian origins of the 12 days of Christmas:

And are you wondering about the concept of the 12 Days of Christmas? The midwinter festival of the ancient Egyptians celebrated the birth of Horus (the prototype of the earthly king) son of Isis (the divine mother-goddess). It was 12 days long, reflecting their 12-month calendar. This concept took firm root in many other cultures. In 567 AD, Christians adopted it. Church leaders proclaimed the 12 days from December 25 to Epiphany as a sacred, festive season.