Hello Everyone,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me – The Twelve Days of Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I recently found out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is your history lesson for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have a Meaningful Yuletide Season! \ud83c\udf84\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffc<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hello Everyone, There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me – The Twelve Days of Christmas. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? I recently found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman … Continue reading