The 12 Days of Christmas history...now it makes sense!

I got this in an email a few moments ago. This is interesting. Please read on...

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 the members of their
church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious
reality which the children could remember.
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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 and 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.

Kelly

Sorry, check out snopes2.com its an urban myth.

Britains turbulent religious past is a very interesting subject. We had Catholic and sympathetic to Catholicism rulers within the time frame mentioned, it is by no means a simple matter of Catholicism being outlawed.

This message was edited Friday, Dec 14th 4:04 PM

Oh no, Im sorry. It never occured to me it might be a myth. Good grief.

Kelly

I'm sure there is no need to apologise, its an effective piece of writing, its very believeable.

There will always be someone who can find a symbolic link for such things. The passiflora bloom and the dogwood are perfect examples. Of course, common sense tells me the flowers were there first, then the legend. But so much of popular belief is perpetuated by failure to authenticate. The history of religion is so dramatic, I don't understand the numerous embellishments that circulate, but people have always done that. Much of the controversy of religion is directly caused by the acceptance of parables as historical fact. It's a safe bet that every one of us believes in at least some of them.

Kelly, that is a lovely interpretation; thank you for sharing it with us. I am in no way convinced by snopes that this meaning is a myth.

I think it's a great interpretation also. I've never heard anything else that comes close to matching meanings up like that. Thanks Kelly.

Thanks. I liked it too. I guess I will do a search and see if I can find anything else on this song.

Well, at least this ought to be right. I see yah, and nay on the song's beginning. However this is what the 12 Days actually mean, and why it was celebrated by some Christians.

The "Twelve days of Christmas" are the 12 days that separate Christmas day, December 25, from Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6. Depending on the church, January 6 may mark Christ's baptism (the Catholic tradition), or it may mark the day that the wise men visited the baby Jesus with their gifts.

In the past, there was a tradition of giving gifts throughout the 12 days, rather than stacking them all up on the morning of December 25. That tradition, as you might imagine, has never really caught on in America.

Pardancanda

It's not just Snopes who say this is a myth.

Kelly

Yes the 12 days is a European tradition which fell by the wayside some centuries ago. In Britian the tradition now is to put up the tree on Christmas Eve and take it all down by the 6th Jan. If it is left up longer the forfiet is you have to leave it up all year.

baa- its supposed to be really bad luck too

I understand that is left up past Twelfth Night, the goblins get into the greens; must be burned before then.

What is bad luck...? I am a Anglican...but never liked the idea of when the church fully celebrates Christmas which is Christmas Eve till I think it is the 6th. I like to be able to sing more Christmas music, and earlier. To celebrate until the 6th is ok. I just like to be able to celebrate EARLIER...which I try to do.