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The
True Twelve Days of Christmas
When
most people hear "The Twelve Days of Christmas", they
think of the song. Legend has it that this song had it's origins as a
teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and content of
the Christian faith. From 1558 to 1829 Roman Catholics in England
were not able to practice their faith openly so they had to find
other ways to pass on their beliefs. The song, "The Twelve Days
of Christmas" is one example of how they did it. The song goes:
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."
The "true love" represents God and the "me" who
receives these presents is the Christian. The "partridge in a
pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift from God.
The "two turtle doves" were the Old and New
Testaments-another gift from God.
The "three French hens" were faith, hope and love - the
three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1Corinthians 13).
The "four calling birds" were the four Gospels which sing
the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the
Bible also called the "Book of Moses."
The "six geese a-laying" were the six days of creation.
The "seven swans a swimming" were "seven gifts of the
Holy Spirit." (1Corinthians 12:9-11, Romans 12, Ephsesians 4,
1Peter 4:10-11)
The "eight maids a milking" were the eight beatitudes.
The "nine ladies dancing" were nine fruits of the Holy
Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The "ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments.
The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples.
The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of
the Apostles' Creed.
So
the next time you hear "The 12 Days of Christmas" consider
how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in the
Christian Faith.
~Author
unkown.~ |
