Lazaro Vega Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 (Begin forwarded message). There's one Christmas song that has always baffled me. What do leaping Lords, French hens, swimming swans, and a partridge who won't come out of a pear tree have to do with Christmas? I found the answer today! The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve 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. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during this era wrote this song 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 New Testaments. -Three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love. -The four calling-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 in the Apostles' Creed. The "true love" in the song refers to God Himself. The "me" receiving the gifts is every Christian. There's your history for today. Merry (Twelve Days Of) Christmas. Dick LaPalm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikelz777 Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Interesting, thanks for the post. I suspected there must be some underlying meaning to the various gifts/days but I hadn't heard this before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeline Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 It's an urban legend... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazaro Vega Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Thanks See Line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeline Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Thanks See Line. de nada, Lazaro. Seems to be right up there with "Jesus" candy canes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereojack Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Those killjoys at Snopes.com take all of the fun out of rumor-mongering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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