Christian Symbolism...

The 12 Days of Christmas

--Author Unknown



There is one Christmas Carol
that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French
hens, swimming swans, and a partridge in 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.



-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. 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 (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone