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Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas |
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There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
Now I know. 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 NewTestaments.
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-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.
By Chell from MO
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
miranda, there were only 11 faithful disciples,judas was not faithful, he betrayed Christ, laura x
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
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Post By Miranda (Guest Post)
(01/05/2007)
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I noticed that "eleven pipers piping refers to 11 disciples" according to this piece. Were there not 12 disciples..not 11?
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
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Post By Aimee (Guest Post)
(12/06/2006)
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This coment is not true.
To see what I am talking about put in "Twelve Days of Christmas Code" on a Google search. There should be one that says "The Twelve Days of Christmas is a catechism song-Fiction!". Click it and read what is says.
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
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Post By Donna (Guest Post)
(12/05/2006)
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Non True...Check out these sites...www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/twelvedaysofchristmas.htm and www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/12days.asp
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
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Post By Jennifer,CA (Guest Post)
(12/22/2005)
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Thanks Chell. I always wanted to know the history of the carol. I knew it was in a code for I heard this years ago but no one I knew, knew the meanings.
This is great!
Merry Christmas!
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
Thank you so much for sharing that, I had no idea and it makes the carol so much more special to me.
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RE: Meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas
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Post By Connie A. (Guest Post)
(12/21/2005)
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Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this with us. Now it makes more sense to me too.
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