| | | The History of The 12 Days Of Christmas
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
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 members of their church. Each element in
the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and NewTestaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels
of Matthew, Mark, Luke & 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 in the Apostles' Creed.
So that's your history for today. |
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