The Twelve Days of Christmas
This year has gone by so fast! Christmas is just around the corner!
Someone from church shared this with my family and I thought it was pretty interesting. They found it on the internet. Here's the meaning behind the song of the Twelve Days of Christmas:
The twelve days of Christmas are the 12 days between Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany, Jan. 6th, which is the day Christians celebrate the arrival of Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world.
The Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," may sound silly and contrived to many of us, but it actually had its origins in religious symbolism- and with a serious purpose.
It dates from a time of religious persecution. The song was written as a kind of secret catechism that could sing in public without fear of interest- a learning memory aid to Christians, in fact.
The song can be taken at 2 levels of interpretation- the surface meaning, or the hidden meaning known only to the Christians involved. Each element is a code word for a religious truth.
1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The 2 turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love.
4. The 4 calling birds are the 4 Gospels.
5. The 5 gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
6. Six geese a-laying stand for the six days of Creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represent the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The 8 maids a-milking are the 8 Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. Ten lords a-leaping are the ten commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.
"True Love"- God
"Me"- Christians receiving the gifts
I thought this was really neat. Next time you hear this song, before you think of it as "silly", remember this post and pass it on!!
Someone from church shared this with my family and I thought it was pretty interesting. They found it on the internet. Here's the meaning behind the song of the Twelve Days of Christmas:
The twelve days of Christmas are the 12 days between Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany, Jan. 6th, which is the day Christians celebrate the arrival of Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world.
The Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," may sound silly and contrived to many of us, but it actually had its origins in religious symbolism- and with a serious purpose.
It dates from a time of religious persecution. The song was written as a kind of secret catechism that could sing in public without fear of interest- a learning memory aid to Christians, in fact.
The song can be taken at 2 levels of interpretation- the surface meaning, or the hidden meaning known only to the Christians involved. Each element is a code word for a religious truth.
1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The 2 turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love.
4. The 4 calling birds are the 4 Gospels.
5. The 5 gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
6. Six geese a-laying stand for the six days of Creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represent the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The 8 maids a-milking are the 8 Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. Ten lords a-leaping are the ten commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.
"True Love"- God
"Me"- Christians receiving the gifts
I thought this was really neat. Next time you hear this song, before you think of it as "silly", remember this post and pass it on!!
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