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The Twelve Days of Christmas
Did
you know that the 12 symbols of this song have a religious
meaning? Here's the background: From 1558 until 1829, Roman
Catholics in England were not allowed to worship and practice their
faith openly. The song, "The 12 Days of Christmas," was
written by one of them as a kind of secret catechism they could sing in
public without being persecuted. The song has two levels of
interpretation - the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only
to members of the church. Each element is a code word for a religion
reality.
The 12 symbols
are:
1.
Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus
2. Turtle
Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3. French Hens
= Faith, Hope and Charity, the theological Virtues
4. Calling
Birds = the Four Gospels
5. Golden
Rings = the first Five Books of the Old Testament
6. Geese a
laying = the six days of creation
7. Swans a
swimming = seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
8. Maids a
milking = eight beatitudes
9. Ladies
dancing = nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10. Lords a
leaping = the Ten Commandments
11. Pipers
Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12. Drummers
drumming = twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.
~~~
On the First day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the Second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Seven Swans a-swimming,
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eight Maids a-milking,
Seven Swans a-swimming,
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine Ladies Dancing,
Eight Maids a-milking,
Seven Swans a-swimming,
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten Lords a-leaping,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
Eight Maids a-milking,
Seven Swans a-swimming,
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a-leaping,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
Eight Maids a-milking,
Seven Swans a-swimming,
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree
On the Twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve Drummers Drumming,
Eleven Pipers Piping,
Ten Lords a-leaping,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
Eight Maids a-milking,
Seven Swans a-swimming,
Six Geese a-laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
~~~
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