12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What do Leaping Lords, French Hens. Swimming Swans, and especially the Partridge who wont come out of the pair tree have to do with Christmas? Today at church. I found out its origin. 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. The 12 days of Christmas are the 12 days between Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany. Jan. 6th. the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the light of the world. The Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas may sound silly and contrived to many of us. But it actually had its origins in religious symbolism and with a serious purpose. It dates from a time of religious persecution. The song, The Twelve Days of Christmas was written as a kind of secret catechism that could that could be sung in public without the fear of being arrested. A learning or memory aid to Christians in fact. 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 children could remember. *1. The partridge in the pair tree was Jesus Christ. The partridge is the piece de resistance, Jesus himself and the pair tree was the cross. *2. Two Turtle Doves was the Old and New testament. *3. Three French Hens stood for faith, hope and love. *4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. *5. The Five Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament. *6. The six geese a laying stood for the six days of creation. *7. Seven swans a swimming represented the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit.-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. *8. The eight maids a milking were the eight beatitudes. *9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and self control. *10. The ten Lords a Leaping were the Ten commandments. *11. The eleven Pipers Piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. *12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle Creed. If you think Jesus being symbolized as a partridge in a pair tree sound blasphemous, remember: Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so. (Luke 13:34 and Matthew 22:34) The true Love in the song refers to God Himself. The me receiving the gifts is every Christian. So that silly song we sing at Christmas time has more meaning then we thought. so there is your history for today. I found this interesting and wanted to share it with you all. Pass it on if you like. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 18:44:15 +0000
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