12 Days of Christmas

CajunMama · #1 Postby **CajunMama** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 1:16 pm

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?

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. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to memebers of their church. Each element in the carol has a colde word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partiridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turltle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four callling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief int eh Apostles' Creed.

I don't know if this is true...it was passed onto me in an email! Happy Holidays!

#2 Postby **wx247** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 1:26 pm

Thanks for sharing. Even if it isn't true we can make it be true if that is what we believe.

southerngale · #3 Postby **southerngale** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 2:27 pm

Very interesting Frick! Thanks for sharing.

#4 Postby **streetsoldier** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 7:43 pm

"Magna est Veritas, et praevalebit" (Great is Truth, and it shall prevail)...having been RC, and still indebted to the fine hand of Loyola (Jesuit influence) in my education, I can believe it.

#5 Postby **Stephanie** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 8:34 pm

I've never heard of that before, but they do make sense! Thank you for sharing!

AussieMark · #6 Postby **AussieMark** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 5:06 am

Interesting Frack i didn't even know that.

GulfBreezer · #7 Postby **GulfBreezer** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 10:29 am

It definitely gives meaning to a song that once boggled my mind also!!

JCT777 · #8 Postby **JCT777** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 1:09 pm

Very interesting. It does sound very believable.

#9 Postby **pojo** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 1:24 pm

that is really interesting with the religious meanings!

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

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