Sometimes we sing our Christmas Carols without really knowing what we are singing about. Some are happy tunes and most are peaceful. The Twelve Days of Christmas has been around for a very long time and it is not really an easy tune to sing. Many of the children I know find it too long and too repetitive. But they do think that it is a very traditional and rich tune.
Here is an explanation of the Twelve Days of Christmas coming through my email and it is a good thing to share with you as it has baffled many people especially those in Malaysia. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
•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 & 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, and Self Control.
•The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
•The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
•The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were
not permitted 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 church. Each
element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.
To all my Christian friends....
Merry Christmas every one!! Peace on the Earth and Good will to all mankind.
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