I didn't Know This

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

(THE TRUE MEANING)

 

Most folks are familiar with the Christmas song,
"The Twelve Days of Christmas". If you listen to
the words carefully, it seems like nonsense set to
rhyme and music. However, it was written with a
serious purpose.



It is more than just a list of twelve silly gifts.
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829
were prohibited by law to practice their faith
either in public or private. It was illegal to be
Catholic.



"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in
England as one of the "catechism songs" to help
young Catholics learn the basics of their faith.
Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young
Catholics could sing the song without fear of
imprisonment. The authorities would not know that
it was a religious song.



The song's gifts had hidden meanings to the
teachings of the Catholic faith. The "true love"
mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly
suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who
receives the presents refers to every baptized
person. in the church. The partridge in a pear tree
is Christ Jesus, the Son of God. In the song, Christ
is symbolically presented as a mother partridge in
memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over
the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How
often would I have sheltered thee under my wings,
as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have
it so..."



Here is a complete list of the 12 symbols with their
meanings:



1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God
revealed in the person of Jesus Christ

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments

3 French hens- Faith, Hope and Charity

4 Calling birds- the four gospels

5 Golden rings- The first five books of the Old Testament

6 Geese-a-laying- the six days of creation

7 Swans a swimming- the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith

8 Maids a milking- the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies dancing- the nine fruits of the Spirit

10 Lords a leaping- the Ten Commandments

11. Pipers piping- the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers drumming- the twelve points in the Apostles Creed

I thought it was 11 Lords a Leapin'.....what did I know!