What Do The Three French Hens Mean To Catholics?
The “Twelve Days of Christmas” is a popular Christmas song that dates back to at least the 18th century in England. The song details a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days between Christmas day and Epiphany (January 6th) by the singer’s “true love.” While seemingly nonsensical at first glance, the lyrics are thought to represent various Christian symbols and virtues. The three French hens specifically have been associated with several important concepts in Catholic tradition.
This article will explore the history of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, examine what the three French hens may symbolize for Catholics, and reflect on their broader significance during the Christmas season.
History of Three French Hens
The tradition of the three French hens dates back to the popular English Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The song is thought to have originated as a memory game in the 18th century during a period of raucous merrymaking between Christmas and Epiphany (Unireadinghistory.com, 2019).
The three French hens specifically refer to the third gift bestowed in the song. On the third day of Christmas, the true love gifts “three French hens” to the singer. Though their origin is uncertain, the hens are believed to be a symbol of France and French cuisine (Americanornithology.org, 2018).
In medieval England, geese and chicken were common holiday foods served by the wealthy. The three French hens may represent an exotic, foreign twist on this tradition (Unireadinghistory.com, 2019). Hens also reflect the agricultural lifestyle of the era when the carol first emerged.
Symbolic Meaning
The three French hens have symbolic meaning for Catholics related to the number three and to hens. The number three represents the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love according to 1 Corinthians 13. Hens are symbols of nourishment and motherly care. Catholic tradition emphasizes practicing faith, hope, and love through acts of charity and nurturing others. The three hens encourage sharing the gifts of faith, hope, and love to provide spiritual nourishment.
Link to Christian Virtues
The three French hens are often interpreted as symbolizing the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, known as 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the apostle Paul according to Three French hens: Third day of Christmas – TLHA. These virtues are an integral part of Christian faith and living. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 states, “And now abide faith, hope, charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.”
The number three has significance in Christianity as it represents the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The three divine persons united in one God. This symbolism connects the three French hens to the foundational doctrine of the Holy Trinity in Christianity. Just as the hens are three yet one, the Trinity is three divine persons in one God.
The theological virtues of faith, hope and charity are gifts from God that help Christians grow in their relationship with Him and live out their faith. The French hens remind believers to nurture these virtues and the Trinitarian aspect of Christianity.
Association with Gifts of the Magi
The three French hens are often associated with the three gifts given by the Magi (the Three Wise Men) when they visited the infant Jesus. Just as there were three gifts, there are three French hens, so they are seen as representing those gifts. The three gifts were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. According to the Gospel of Matthew 2:11, “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” The gold represented Jesus’ kingship, the frankincense his divinity, and the myrrh his mortality.
The three French hens, then, are a symbolic parallel to those three important gifts that recognized Jesus as the prophesied messiah and king. Like those gifts acknowledged the infant Jesus as fully human and fully divine, the three hens represent affirming and celebrating the true identity of Christ. As the popular Christmas song highlights “three French hens” along with other symbolic sets of gifts, it prompts reflection on the meaning behind the gifts of the Magi at Christ’s birth.
Representation of the Holy Family
The three French hens are said to symbolize the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The hen came to represent Mother Mary because of the motherly, nurturing qualities associated with hens tending to their chicks. Hens were seen as devoted, protective mothers, so they became an apt symbol for Mary’s love and care for the infant Jesus.
The three hens together came to stand for the Holy Family in Catholic symbolism and art. Just as a hen shelters her chicks under her wings, the Holy Family represents the loving home and refuge that sheltered the Christ child. Joseph, as the father and protector of the family, could also be represented by the rooster or cock. So the three birds together stand for the loving triangle – father, mother, child – that formed the Holy Family.
This symbolism is seen in Catholic religious art, like this example depicting the three French hens together with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a nativity scene:
[Insert photo citation here]
The loving nurture and protection of the Holy Family, represented by the three hens, is an important focus of Catholic tradition around the nativity story and Christmas.
Reflection of the Holy Trinity
The three French hens are said to symbolize the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Source). In the Christian faith, God is understood as one God in three divine Persons. The three hens correspond to each member of the Trinity:
- The first hen represents God the Father, the creator and source of divine life.
- The second hen symbolizes Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became incarnate as a human.
- The third hen signifies the Holy Spirit, the love between the Father and Son that breathes life into the world.
Just as hens hatch, nourish and protect their chicks, the three Persons of the Trinity work in union to give and sustain life. The number three points to their unity as one Godhead sharing one divine essence. The French hens remind us of the Triune God who lovingly watches over humankind.
Encouragement of Generosity
The gift of the three French hens promotes generosity and giving to others. In the Bible, hens are seen as signs of God’s providence and nourishment (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34). Just as hens selflessly care for their chicks, the three French hens encourage people to give generously to those in need.
Saint Thomas Aquinas associated the three theological virtues – faith, hope, and charity – with the three French hens [1]. Charity is closely linked to giving, as it means selfless, unconditional love. The three hens remind Catholics to give freely to others, following Christ’s teaching that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Overall, the three French hens promote the spirit of generosity and giving at the heart of the Christmas season and Christian teaching.
Symbol of Nourishment
Hens are a symbol of nourishment because of their ability to provide food and sustenance. Mother hens will selflessly feed their chicks before eating themselves, sacrificing their own needs for those of their young (The Hen is a Symbol of Motherhood). This nurturing and life-giving characteristic connects the hen to motherhood and fertility. Their eggs and meat can nourish humans as well. In the Bible, Jesus refers to himself as a mother hen sheltering Jerusalem under his wings, using the hen’s nourishing nature as a metaphor for God’s protection and provision for His children (Matthew 23:37). Just as hens sustain their chicks, God will supply the needs of those who trust in Him.
Conclusion
The three French hens hold great symbolic meaning for Catholics. They represent the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity that every Christian should strive to embody. The hens encourage the spirit of generosity and giving during the Christmas season, just as the Magi brought gifts to baby Jesus. They signify the Holy Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit united as one. For Catholics, the three hens reflect the nourishment Christ provides for the soul, like a mother hen sheltering her chicks. Above all, these small birds remind Catholics to nurture their faith and cultivate the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Their song is a call to live out the gospel through acts of love and service. The three French hens thus have profound significance, summarizing core aspects of Catholic faith and tradition.
