But 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?
Today, I found out . . .
It is connected to the history of Epiphany,
a Christian celebration begun in A.D. 597
to honor the visit of the Wise Men.
The twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th)
were traditionally filled with festivals,
ending with a party on the Twelfth Night.
The 12 Days of Christmas commemorates
the twelve gifts given on each of the days.
Legend also has it that during the 16th century,
the officials of the Church of England forbid all other religious teachings
about Christ except theirs.
It says that 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.
So for 200 years parents who refused to join that church used songs to teach their
children in secret. From the partridge in a pear tree -- a brave bird willing to give its
life to defend its babies from harm -- representing Jesus, to the 12 drummers keeping
Christians in step to the 12 affirmations in the Apostle's Creed, this song teaches the
wonderful story of redemption. Thus, the song’s gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings
of the faith.
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor,
it refers to God Himself.
The "me" who receives the presents
refers to every baptized person.
* The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge
which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings,
much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem:
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings,
as a hen does her chicks,
but thou wouldst not have it so . . ."
* 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
from this knowledge which was shared with me;
I found it interesting and enlightening,
and just as I thought I knew how that strange song
became a Christmas Carol . . .
I discovered that it is only
. . . a beautiful legend - and no more:
the claim about the "secret" origins of the song
is nothing more than a fanciful tale,
similar to the many apocryphal "hidden meanings"
of various nursery rhymes.
There is absolutely no documentation or supporting evidence
for this claim whatsoever,
other than mere repetition of the claim itself.
The claim appears to date only to the 1990s,
marking it as likely an invention of modern day speculation
rather than historical fact.
and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree
have to do with Christmas?
Today, I found out . . .
It is connected to the history of Epiphany,
a Christian celebration begun in A.D. 597
to honor the visit of the Wise Men.
The twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th)
were traditionally filled with festivals,
ending with a party on the Twelfth Night.
The 12 Days of Christmas commemorates
the twelve gifts given on each of the days.
Legend also has it that during the 16th century,
the officials of the Church of England forbid all other religious teachings
about Christ except theirs.
It says that 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.
So for 200 years parents who refused to join that church used songs to teach their
children in secret. From the partridge in a pear tree -- a brave bird willing to give its
life to defend its babies from harm -- representing Jesus, to the 12 drummers keeping
Christians in step to the 12 affirmations in the Apostle's Creed, this song teaches the
wonderful story of redemption. Thus, the song’s gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings
of the faith.
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor,
it refers to God Himself.
The "me" who receives the presents
refers to every baptized person.
* The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge
which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings,
much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem:
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings,
as a hen does her chicks,
but thou wouldst not have it so . . ."
* 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
from this knowledge which was shared with me;
I found it interesting and enlightening,
and just as I thought I knew how that strange song
became a Christmas Carol . . .
I discovered that it is only
. . . a beautiful legend - and no more:
the claim about the "secret" origins of the song
is nothing more than a fanciful tale,
similar to the many apocryphal "hidden meanings"
of various nursery rhymes.
There is absolutely no documentation or supporting evidence
for this claim whatsoever,
other than mere repetition of the claim itself.
The claim appears to date only to the 1990s,
marking it as likely an invention of modern day speculation
rather than historical fact.
Graphics: DawnStar Graphics Library
Music: The Twelve Days of Christmas
~Based on a contribution by Ric Johnson
Music: The Twelve Days of Christmas
~Based on a contribution by Ric Johnson
Merry & Blessed Twelve Days of Christmas Everyone . . .
Do not forget to leave an extra setting at your table;
in case a stranger comes by
- or in memory of the dearly departed.
-The 12 Days of Christmas
Deep Peace of the Shining Stars to You
Do not forget to leave an extra setting at your table;
in case a stranger comes by
- or in memory of the dearly departed.
-The 12 Days of Christmas
Deep Peace of the Shining Stars to You
To submit comments, requests or materials,
contact me at outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
contact me at outreach@dawncoveabbey.org
For empowerment workshops, seminars and lectures, see: http://www.dawncoveabbey.org/healing-circle
_______________________________________________________
MorningStar Inspiration from Dawn Cove Abbey
Article, haiku, humour and poem contributions are welcomed, and gratefully received
Layout & Design by DawnStar
_______________________________________________________
MorningStar Inspiration from Dawn Cove Abbey
Article, haiku, humour and poem contributions are welcomed, and gratefully received
Layout & Design by DawnStar
_______________________________________________________
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Visit the new Stella Maris Community: a special
place where truth and beauty dwells HERE
place where truth and beauty dwells HERE
There is one Christmas Carol whose lyrics brings the
joyful traditional song to life
and makes it as fresh and fun today
as it was when it was first sung hundreds of years ago.
Yet it has always baffled me.
The carol is “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.
This ancient counting song, named after
the 12-day holiday in England over Christmas,
celebrates the tradition of gift giving.
joyful traditional song to life
and makes it as fresh and fun today
as it was when it was first sung hundreds of years ago.
Yet it has always baffled me.
The carol is “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.
This ancient counting song, named after
the 12-day holiday in England over Christmas,
celebrates the tradition of gift giving.
This piece is often attributed to Fr. Hal Stockert,
and in his explanation on a page from the web site of
the Catholic Information Network, he wrote:
“It is possible that ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’
has
been confused with (or is a transformation of) a song
called ‘A New Dial’ (also known as ‘In Those Twelve
Days’),
which dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious
meanings to each of the twelve days of Christmas
(but not for the purposes of teaching a catechism).”
and in his explanation on a page from the web site of
the Catholic Information Network, he wrote:
“It is possible that ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’
has
been confused with (or is a transformation of) a song
called ‘A New Dial’ (also known as ‘In Those Twelve
Days’),
which dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious
meanings to each of the twelve days of Christmas
(but not for the purposes of teaching a catechism).”
Fable or not, it is still a beautiful story – and a not-so-bad idea:
after all, in this laissez-faire world, with its lack of exemplary
ethical and moral standards, and a condescension to political correctness,
we may soon have to invent our own “codes” to pass the decent
and good things of human life along – to preserve them.
after all, in this laissez-faire world, with its lack of exemplary
ethical and moral standards, and a condescension to political correctness,
we may soon have to invent our own “codes” to pass the decent
and good things of human life along – to preserve them.
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