I have resolved to be more focused in 2012 and to start off, I'd like to extend a lesson on the Twelve Days of Christmas . . . after the cartoon, I promise I'll get serious now . . . .
The Twelve Days of Christmas . . . are the 12 days
following December 25th. The Christmas Season runs
until Epiphany, January 6.
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.
So there is your history
for today. I found it interesting and
enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol!