MissGnomer\'s Rantings 16 Dec 2008 06:58 pm
The Meaning of the Song “The 12 Days of Christmas”
The Meaning of the Song “The 12 Days of Christmas”
This is the one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me! What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially a partridge in a pear tree have to do with Christmas? And although I hate to say this - I must admit this song is also my least favorite Christmas song of all time. However, now that I understand it and it’s TRUE meaning – I will think differently the next time I listen to it. I shall listen to it with an open mind and an open heart.
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. Here we go!
-:¦:- 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, 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 you have it! This knowledge was shared with me and I found it both interesting and enlightening. Now I understand how this strange song became a Christmas Carol – pretty ingenious I must say!
¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´* Merry (12 Days of) Christmas Everyone!
The Meaning of the Song “The 12 Days of Christmas”
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