Do Two Turtle Doves Mean Friendship?

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” is a classic English Christmas carol that dates back to the 1700s. The song poetically lists a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days leading up to Epiphany, the day Christians believe the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.

Each of the gifts mentioned in the song is thought to have a specific symbolic meaning relating to Christian teachings. The repeating pattern builds in intensity over the twelve days, serving as a poetic countdown to the Epiphany celebration. Though originally just a folk song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” has become a beloved part of Christmas traditions and celebrations around the world.

The 12 Days of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas is a traditional festive period of celebration in the Christian faith, observed from December 25 through January 5 every year. According to the Wikipedia page on the Twelve Days of Christmas, the 12 Days signify the span between the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25 and the coming of the Magi/Three Kings to visit the infant Jesus on January 6 known as Epiphany.

The 12 Days of Christmas have their origins in medieval and Tudor England, when they were considered an important part of celebrating the Christmas season. As explained on this English Heritage page about the 12 Days, people in England during that time would celebrate from Christmas to Epiphany with parties, dancing, feasting and other festivities. Gifts would also be given on each of the 12 Days, building up to the greatest gifts given on Epiphany in honor of the Magi’s gifts to Jesus.

Turtle Doves

The turtle dove is a migratory bird in the pigeon and dove family that winters in Africa but spends the spring and summer breeding season in Europe and western Asia. They get their name from their soft throaty “turtle” sounding vocalization. Turtle doves are small-headed with a slender body and long, pointed tail. Their plumage is mostly gray and brown with a noticeable black collar around the base of their neck, and black bars on the white tail.

Turtle doves have long been celebrated in mythology and culture as a symbol of devoted love and partnership. According to Greek mythology, a pair of turtle doves were responsible for pulling the goddess Aphrodite’s chariot. In the Old Testament book Song of Solomon, the fidelity of the turtle dove is invoked to represent steadfast romantic love: “The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:12).

During the Middle Ages in Europe, turtle doves were considered the quintessential monogamous creature since they mate for life, work together to build nests, and care for their young together. This led to turtle doves becoming iconic symbols of romance, faithfulness, peace, fertility and the arrival of spring. The twelve days of Christmas carol includes the lyric “and two turtle doves” specifically to represent devoted love.

Today, turtle doves are still symbols of affection, though their populations are declining due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Their enduring cultural legacy reminds us of the power of partnership, devotion, and working cooperatively to build something beautiful.

Biblical Symbolism

Turtle doves are mentioned numerous times in the Bible and carry deep symbolic meaning in Christianity. According to the Bible, turtle doves were used as offerings and sacrifices to God (Leviticus 1:14, Luke 2:24). Their inclusion in sacrifices symbolized purity, loyalty and faithfulness.

In the Old Testament, turtle doves were offered as a sacrifice by Mary and Joseph after the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:24). This was because turtle doves were the affordable sacrifice for those who could not afford a lamb. The sacrifice of two turtle doves symbolized Jesus’ purity and fulfillment of the law.

Turtle doves are also used as a representation and symbol for Israel in the Bible. For example, in Song of Songs 2:12 it states “The voice of the turtledove is heard in our land”. Here, the turtledove’s calling is a metaphor for Israel crying out to God.

Overall, in Christianity and the Bible, turtle doves represent love, purity, sacrifice and faithfulness. Their pairing for life gave them symbolic meaning of friendship and loyalty between man and God in biblical times.

Love and Friendship

Turtle doves are an ancient symbol of love and friendship in many cultures. In the 12 Days of Christmas song, ‘two turtle doves’ refers to this symbolism tied to the bird. According to biblical sources, turtle doves represent devoted love and faithfulness. They were given as a sacrificial offering in the bible, symbolizing the strong bond between man and God ¹.

In Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite (associated with love and beauty) considered white turtle doves sacred. Illustrations often depict the goddess with a turtle dove ². Cockney rhyming slang also uses ‘turtle dove’ to mean love. The symbolism of turtle doves representing affection and friendship continues even today. Their peaceful presence and lifelong mating habits reinforce notions of faithfulness, harmony and enduring care.

Faithfulness

One of the most well-known symbolic meanings of turtle doves is faithfulness and loyalty. This comes from the fact that turtle doves mate for life, staying loyal to their partner until death. Once two turtle doves pair up, they will remain a monogamous couple for the rest of their lives.

This faithfulness between mated turtle doves has led to them being used over the centuries as a symbol of fidelity and lasting love. We even see references to turtle doves and their loyalty in the Bible. For example, in the Song of Solomon, the lover says “My dove, my perfect one, is unique” (Song of Solomon 6:9).

The turtle dove’s faithfulness to its mate represents the ideal love between two people – unwavering, devoted and lasting for a lifetime. Their loyalty to each other mirrors the commitment and fidelity that partners should strives for in marriage and long-term relationships. So when we think of two turtle doves together, we can be reminded of the virtues of faithfulness, dependability and trust that true love requires.

Peace

The white turtle dove is an internationally recognized symbol of peace. Peace is one of the main symbolic meanings associated with doves due to their gentle nature. This meaning comes from the Biblical story of Noah’s ark, where a dove returned with an olive branch after the flood to signify the end of God’s wrath (Wikipedia). The white dove carrying an olive branch has since become a universal sign of hope, peace and reconciliation.

White doves are portrayed as messengers of peace and positivity. Their white coloring represents purity and innocence. Releasing white doves at weddings, funerals or memorials can represent sending a departed soul to a peaceful rest, or blessing the start of a new union with luck and tranquility. Seeing a white dove can be interpreted as a sign of peaceful energies or the end of a conflict.

The white turtle dove’s association with peace has led to its widespread use as a symbol of pacifist movements and campaigns for non-violence. Images of the white dove continue to represent the ideals of harmony, calm and a desire for reconciliation during times of conflict around the world.

Fertility

Turtle doves have long been a symbol of fertility, motherhood, and new life according to Christian tradition. In the Bible, turtle doves were offered as sacrifices by Mary and Joseph after the birth of Jesus, as described in Luke 2:22-24. This represents the sacrifice required of mothers after giving birth, as well as the purity and innocence associated with new life.

Furthermore, turtle doves are known to mate for life, lay eggs in the springtime, and care dutifully for their young. This dedication to creating new life and nurturing it is symbolic of ideal motherhood and fertility. Since ancient times, images of turtle doves have represented the feminine, maternal aspect of nature’s bounty and reproductive cycle.

The pairing of turtle doves is therefore strongly associated with fertility, fruitfulness, and the sacred feminine power of creation. This symbolism carries through to the lyrics of the 12 Days of Christmas song, where “two turtle doves” implies love, partnership, and the potential for new life.

Conclusion

In the classic Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, the gift on the second day is “two turtle doves”. While a playful song, the gifts each carry symbolism. The two turtle doves specifically represent love, friendship, faithfulness, and peace. Turtle doves mate for life, making them an emblem of devoted love and lasting friendship between two people. Their affectionate nature and gentle cooing also evoke peace, calm, and faithfulness. So within the song, receiving two turtle doves on the second day affirms the loving bond between two people and the peace found in devoted friendship. The turtle dove’s connection to fertility can also signify blossoming relationships and new beginnings. Overall, two turtle doves beautifully symbolize the meaningful gifts of true friendship – faithfulness, peace, love and the comfort of an enduring bond between two souls.

References

This article was researched and written based on the following sources:

• The History of The Twelve Days of Christmas. TraditionalMusic.co.uk.

• On the Second Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me…Who Were the Two Turtle Doves? WhyChristmas.com.

• Turtle Dove. Spirit-animals.com.

• Turtledove Meanings and Symbolism. AuntyFlo.com.

• Turtledove. BibleStudyTools.com.