He sent me this today - I'm sending it on as a memetic interest as well as
just info. I never made these connections with this song we all know.
Bill Roh
Hello everyone. I sent this out yesterday but it looks like it did not get out
so am trying again. If it did get out, remember that "repetitio est mater
studiorum". My prayers for a blessed and holy HOLIDAY SEASON.
Fr. Ray
This is true meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas [the song describing the
original celebration of Christmas from Nativity to Epiphany] The song had
its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and
content of the Christian faith. From 1558 to 1829 Roman Catholics in England
were not able to practice their faith openly so they had to find other ways
to pass on their beliefs.
The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is one example of how they did it.
"The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in
the song represents something of religious significance. The hidden meaning
of each gift was designed to help young Christians learn their faith. The
song goes,
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."
The "true love" represents God and the "me" who receives these presents is
the Christian.
The "partridge in a pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift
from God.
The "two turtle doves" were the Old and New Testaments - another gift from
God.
The "three French hens" were faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the
Spirit that abide (I Corinthians 13).
The "four calling birds" were the four Gospels which sing the song of
salvation through Jesus Christ.
The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the Bible also called
the "Books of Moses," the "Pentateuch" and the "Law of Moses."
The "six geese a-laying" were the six days of creation.
The "seven swans a swimming" were "seven gifts of the Holy Spirit." (I
Corinthians 12:8-11, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
The "eight maids a milking" were the eight beatitudes.
The "nine ladies dancing" were nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians
5:22-23)
The "ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments.
The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples.
The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of the Apostles'
Creed.