THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a popular holiday song, but
did you know that its origin has a
religious connotation?
From 1558 until 1829 the Catholics of England were forbidden
by law to practice their faith. As a result of this ban the Catholics
resorted to secretive and symbolic songs to teach religious truths to their
children. "The Twelve Days of
Christmas" is one of these songs that could be sung without the
secret meaning being understood by listeners.
The "Twelve Days" stand for the Christmas season from December
25, the day Jesus was born, to January 6, the day the Wise Men came to see Him.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.
My
"True Love" in the carol is God Himself, whose love for us is the
truest love there is. Because of this
true love he gives us special gifts on each of the twelve days of Christmas. The bird stands for Christ, God's own son,
who was given to us on Christmas Day.
Jesus gathers us in His arms just as a partridge gathers its young under
its wings. The tree reminds us of Tree
in the garden of Eden which Adam lost by sin.
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY
TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME TWO TURTLE DOVES.
The
doves represent the sacrifice which a Jewish family had to make at the temple
upon the birth of a son. Today our
sacrifice is the divine liturgy celebrated in the mass. This liturgy is based on the two testaments
of God's loving concern for us, the old and the new.
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME THREE FRENCH HENS.
In
England at that time hens imported from France was considered a great table
delicacy. Only the king and a few
noblemen were able to afford them. The
French hens represent the expensive gifts brought to Jesus by the three Wise
Men, which in turn represents God's gifts to us of Faith, Hope and Love.
These
birds sat in the rafters above the mangers inviting all to listen to them. They remind us of the four evangelists, whose
Gospels call us to the Bethlehem manger of the Redeemer.
THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME FIVE GOLDEN RINGS.
A
ring or circle has neither beginning nor end and so is a symbol of everlasting
eternity. Five is the number of Christ's
wounds, so the five golden rings are the five shining wounds by which Jesus
earned for us our eternal life--our salvation.
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME SIX GEESE A-LAYING.
The
geese--ungainly but working--suggest the six days of creation and the six days
of the week when man labors to bring forth the fruit of the earth. Though we must strive to obtain it, God does
provide us with a bountiful harvest.
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY
TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING.
The
seven swans remind us of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, those gifts that
keep us in harmony with God by the guiding force of the Holy Spirit.
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY
TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING.
Milk
has always been the universal symbol of nourishment, the satisfaction of our
daily food. The eight maids are the
eight beatitudes that nourishes our spiritual lives.
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME NINE LADIES DANCING.
The
nine ladies are the nine choirs of angels who guard us, guide us and sometimes
brings us messages from God.
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE
LOVE GAVE TO ME TEN LORDS A-LEAPING.
The
ten lords are the ten commandments given to us to keep that we might have order
in our lives, and with that order peace.
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY
TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING.
The
eleven pipers are the eleven apostles (without Judas.) It is they who proclaimed the Good News of
Jesus Christ to the world and to us.
ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY
TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING.
The
drummers remind us of the twelve articles of faith contained in the Apostles'
Creed. The gift of faith becomes our
belief and trust in the goodness of God, Who in love has bestowed so may gifts
upon us.
///
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THE TWELVE
DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is
a popular holiday song, but did you know that its origin has a religious
connotation? The Ukranian Weekly of
Philadelphia provides the following story....
From 1558 until 1829 the Catholics of
England were forbidden by law to practice their faith. As a result of this ban the Catholics
resorted to secretive and symbolic songs to teach religious truths to their
children.
The "Twelve Days" stand for the
Christmas season, Dec. 25 to Jan. 6. The
"True Love" in the carol is God himself, Who gives us special gifts
on each of the days. The first gift is a
"Partridge in a Pear Tree."
The bird stands for Christ, Who gathers His young under His wings. The tree harkens back to the Tree of
Paradise, which Adam lost by sin.
"Two Turtle Doves" is the second
gift. The doves represent the sacrifice
which a Jewish family had to make at the temple upon the birth of a son. Today, our sacrifice is the divine liturgy
celebrated in the mass. This liturgy is
based on the two testaments of God's loving concern for us, the old and the
new.
"Three French Hens" is the third
gift. In England at that time hens
imported from France were considered a great table delicacy. Only the king and a few noblemen were able to
afford them. The three French hens
represent the expensive gifts brought to Jesus by the three Wise Men, which in
turn represents God's gifts to us of Faith, Hope and Love.
"Four Calling Birds" is the
fourth gift. These birds represent the
birds which sat in the rafters above the manger inviting us to listen to
them. They remind us of the four
evangelists, whose Gospels call us all to the Bethlehem manger of the Redeemer.
"Five Golden Rings" is the fifth
gift. A ring or circle has neither
beginning nor end and so is a symbol of everlasting eternity. Five is the number of Christ's wounds by
which Jesus earned for us our eternal life-- our salvation.
"Six Geese A-laying" is the sixth
gift. The geese--ungainly but
working--suggest the six days of creation and the six days of the week when man
labors to bring forth the fruit of the earth.
Though we must strive to obtain it, God does provide us with a beautiful
harvest.
"Seven Swans A-swimming" is the
seventh gift. The seven swans remind us
of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, those gifts that keep us in harmony with
God by the guiding force of the Holy Spirit.
"Eight Maids A-milking" is the
eighth gift. Milk has always been the
universal symbol of nourishment, the satisfaction of our daily food. The eight maids are the eight beatitudes that
nourishes our spiritual lives.
"Nine Ladies Dancing" is the
ninth gift. The nine ladies are the nine
choirs of angels who guard us, guide us and sometimes brings us messages from
God.
"Ten Lords A-leaping" is the
tenth gift. The ten lords are the ten
commandments given to us to keep, that we might have order in our lives, and
with that order peace.
"Eleven Pipers Piping" is the
eleventh gift. The eleven pipers are the
eleven apostles (without Judas.) It is
they who proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world and to us.
"Twelve Drummers drumming" is the
twelfth gift. The drummers remind us of
the twelve articles of faith contained in the Nicean Creed. The gift of faith becomes our belief and
trust in the goodness of God, Who in love has bestowed so many gifts upon us.
We cannot help but marvel at the courage
and faith of these early English Catholics, as we sing "The Twelve Days of
Christmas." Perhaps the symbolic
prayers and thoughts contained in this Christmas carol are secretly with those
Christians of other countries who are persecuted and subjugated for their
belief in God. May they ever persevere
in their faith.
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