Several days ago Alan sent me this interesting bit of Christmas trivia. While he and Stevie have been battling Stevie's illness he still has time to share some Christmas joy with the rest of us.
Thanks, Alan. I really enjoyed learning about this carol.
***
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?
This week, I found out.
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.
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.
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 there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.
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 there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone!
3 comments:
Hi Sandpiper,s
This is our first Christmas here and tonight was beautiful. Sitting around a campfire, sharing song and laughter. We even tried to sing the 12 days of Christmas, it is quite interesting how the early church got the message out. Merry Christmas to all and a joyful New Year God Bless Karen #403
A very Merry Christmas to all of our family at Sandpipers. We are here at the beach in Southern Cambodia and today are missing our friends at Sandpipers and our family in Canada. But, rest assured....we will be seeing you soon!
Tony and Helen...former residents of # 34
I had never heard of this allegory, but it is a beautiful story. I'll never hear this song again without thinking of this other meaning.
Patsy and Garland, 108
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