Info and humor for Christmas

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:24 pm Info and humor for Christmas

I thought this was interesting:

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?
Today, 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.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol ...so pass it on if you wish.'
Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone.....

Since I'm down in Texas, us Southerns have our own take on things:

An Outsider in a small Texas town around Christmas time, saw a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. But one small feature was all wrong: the three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, he left. At a "Quik Stop" on the edge of town, he asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets.

She exploded into a rage, yelling, "You darn Yankees never read your Bibles!"

The Outsider assured her that he did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible.

She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and riffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in the guys face she said, "See, it says right here, 'The three wise men came from afar.'
Laughing

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:28 pm (No subject)

lol there we go i learn something new every day...never really thought what that song meant just that i hated it lol...but ty debs that was interesting

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:53 am (No subject)

Your Welcome Broxi, I always find it interesting when I've heard something all my life and finally find out what it means....who would of thought The 12 Days of Christmas was a religious rebellion song.

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:27 am (No subject)

Thanks for the post webdeb!! It was very enlightening. Just like a lot of childrens songs we sing without thinking what they mean.

London Bridges and such had a lot of hidden meanings in them.

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:29 pm (No subject)

thanks deb that was really neat

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:18 pm (No subject)

Your Welcome msfilly, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas to you and yours.