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The 12 days of Christmas

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Dec-26-08 05:27 PM RhapsodyBlue tags:

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 that 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 and 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
1. Prophesy
2. Serving
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Contribution
6. Leadership
7. Mercy
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. 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


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Comment from: Xeia_777 Jan-16-09 03:13 AM

This is really neat. I was raised and went to catholic school never heard about this. Not catholic anymore since truly being born again but this explains more of the ritualistic nature of the religion.