Monday, December 08, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Meaning Behind The Song

The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, Dec. 25th and ends on Epiphany, Jan. 6th. Christmas was originally for the Jewish people. Only Jews and angels were around at Jesus' birth. Epiphany represents the day when the Wise Men arrive and the world gets to see the savior of the world.
Back in the days when the Catholic church was persecuting Protestants and didn't want them to read the Bible, Protestants made up this song to teach their children about the faith:

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

Read the full story here or anywhere over the internet:
http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti102896.html

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Who knew...

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