Updated Aug. 15, 2004
(This came to me via an e-mail from a preacher friend several years ago--Hal)
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially that partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
From l558 until l829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed 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 denomination.
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 New Testaments.
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, Self-control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed
So there is your history lesson for today. but found it interesting and creative and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.
For more information on this, check out http://www.cin.org/twelvday.html, http://www.byrum.org/misc/christmas/origin.html, and/or http://www.cresourcei.org/cy12days.html.
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Created Aug.
15, 2004 Updated Aug. 15, 2004 |