|
|
"In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown,
a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people."
Luke 1:49
The
Twelve Days of Christmas
The 12 Days of
Christmas start with Christmas Day and finish with the eve of
Epiphany on the 5th of January. From 1558 until
1829, Christians were not permitted to
practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote
this carol as a song for young Christians. It has two
levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning
known only to members of the church. Each element in the
carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the
children could remember.
On the
first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
True Love refers
to God
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Turtle Doves
refers to the Old and New Testaments
On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
French Hens
refers to Faith, Hope and Love
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Calling Birds
refers to the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
On the
fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Golden Rings refers to the
first Five Books of the Old Testament,
the "Pentateuch", which gives the
history of man's fall from grace
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
The six geese a-laying stands for the
six days of creation
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Swans A-swimming
refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven
sacraments: Prophesy, Serving,
Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, & Mercy
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Maids A-milking
refers to the eight beatitudes
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Nine ladies dancing are the nine
fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,
Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self
Control
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Lords A-leaping
refers to the ten commandments
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Pipers Piping
refers to the eleven faithful Apostles
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Drummers Drumming
refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's
Creed:
1. I believe in God the
Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ,
his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by
the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius
Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into
hell:
5. The third day he rose
again from the dead:
6. He ascended into
heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall
come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy
Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy
catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of
sins:
11. The resurrection of
the body:
12. And the life
everlasting.
Amen
This Christmas, we pray:
-
that the love of Jesus be
born in your heart,
-
that the peace of God
shine down upon you and your family, and
-
that you are blessed with
health, wealth, and knowledge.
Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year
|
|
