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The twelve days of Christmas: The real meaning. (Sounds like a tabloid story doesn't it?)
My children brought this home to me. I had never looked at this carol in this way before. Amazing what comes your way.
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. Beginning in the 16th century through to the 19th century, Roman Catholics were not free to practice their religion in England. In order to pass on the traditions of the Church, songs such as this were devised to teach the younger generation about their forbidden religion.
Here are some of the symbols believed to be behind the words of this seemingly senseless song.
TRUE LOVE - a symbol for God, the one responsible for the gifts we receive
PARTRIDGE/PEAR TREE - symbol for Jesus, who died on a tree. Also a partridge gathers its young and keeps them safe under his wing
TWO TURTLE DOVES - symbolic of the two birds sacrificed by Joseph at the time of Jesus' birth, or a symbol of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible
THREE FRENCH HENS - Faith, Hope and Love, the three gifts of the Holy Spirit, a symbol of the Trinity, or perhaps the gifts the Magi brought the infant Jesus
FOUR CALLING BIRDS - the four Gospels in the New Testament and their authors, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS - the first five books of the Bible, also known as the "Book of Moses"
SIX GEESE A-LAYING - the six days of creation
SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING - the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Piety, Wisdom, Counsel, Fear of the Lord, Understanding, Knowledge and Fortitude or the seven sacraments.
EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING - the eight Beatitudes, the declarations from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
NINE LADIES DANCING - nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance
TEN LORDS A-LEAPING - the Ten Commandments
ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING - the faithful apostles, excluding Judas
TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING - the twelve points of the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed, stating all articles of faith and beliefs of the Church
So let’s hear the Christmas carol again, anew:
“On the first day of Christmas my God gave to me Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the second day of Christmas God gave to me, two testaments the old new, and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the third day of Christmas God gave to me, the three cardinal virtues of faith, hope and love, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the fourth day of Christmas God gave to me, the four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the fifth day of Christmas God gave to me, the Torah, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the sixth day of Christmas God gave to me, the six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the seventh day of Christmas God gave to me, the seven sacraments, six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the eighth day of Christmas God gave to me, the eight beatitudes, seven sacraments, six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the ninth day of Christmas God gave to me, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, eight beatitudes, seven sacraments, six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the tenth day of Christmas God gave to me, the ten commandments, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, eight beatitudes, seven sacraments, six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the eleventh day of Christmas God gave to me, eleven faithful apostles, ten commandments, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, eight beatitudes, seven sacraments, six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
“On the twelfth day of Christmas God gave to me, twelve points of belief in the creed, eleven faithful apostles, ten commandments, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, eight beatitudes, seven sacraments, six days of creation, first five books of the bible, four gospels, three cardinal virtues, two testaments and Jesus hanging on a tree for me”
Whew!
So there is your history lesson 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...so pass it on if you wish.'
Merry Christmas Everyone
