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Wed 11 Dec, 2002 12:51 pm
Maybe some of you already know this, but I never knew the meaning behind the song "The 12 Days of Christmas". This was sent to me in my e-mail and I thought I'd share it:
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 New Testaments.
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.
I found this interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.
I never heard this explanation before (but then I never really looked for an explanation -- the song just 'was'). Interesting.
This is fascinating, and it reminds me of a Passover song called "Echod Mi yodeah, echod ani odeah" which is translated to "Who knows one? I know one!" I never knew the 13th attribute (we always just went up to 12 at our seders). Here are the words, in English:
ECHAD MI YODEAH -- WHO KNOWS ONE?
Who knows one? I know one!
One is our God in heaven and on earth
Echad Eloheinu she-ba-shamayim u-va-aretz
Who knows two, three, four... I know!
Thirteen are the attributes of God's love.
Twelve are the tribes of Israel.
Eleven are the stars in Joseph's dream.
Ten are the commandments at Sinai.
Nine are the months to childbirth.
Eight are the days to circumcision.
Seven are the days of the week.
Six are the sections of the Mishna.
Five are the books of the Torah.
Four are the matriarchs.
Three are the patriarchs.
Two are the tablets of the covenant.
One is our God in heaven and on earth.
Actually, the twelve days are the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany.
The above story was first published in 1982
ORIGIN OF "THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"
And here a reply:
Urban Legends - snopes
Interesting reading, Walter. I guess I've been "snoped."
jespah, I love the words to the Passover song. Thanks for posting them.
Hey, chat, you're welcome. :-D
"Seven swans a swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy"
I am with you now
ALTHO'...
There is so much more that goes around behind the scenes :wink:
I hope 2 learn more way around this site very quickly...
BTW - Who da HELL is da "prince of darkness" [he he]....
Struggling wiv COMP probs @ the mo'...
Hoping my system can keep up... :wink:
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