Twelve Days of Christmas

While browsing the internet for Christmas inspiration, I ran across the following information regarding the Twelve Days of Christmas. I loved it and wanted to share it with all of you. The history of this silly song is heartwarming and again, one of the ways to bring alittle more Christ into Christmas. 

I have always loved that song for some reason, it's catchy and I love all of the characters! But, honestly never invested to much in it, for I, like the writer who posted the article, had no idea what it had to do with Christmas. Now, I will most definately look at it much differently and will feel more passion and freedom in embracing the idea of the Twelve Days of Christmas. I am excited now to find that perfect collection of the Twelve Days of Christmas. What will it be, ornaments, plates, artwork? I will delight in search now that I feel the connection to the song. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Merry Christmas!

Twelve Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,
swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? This week, I found out. 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.
-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.

Enjoy your holiday season! I am excited this year for having an opportunity to see more Christ in Christmas, I have been missing him. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours,

Warmly,

Kim