|
 |
CNO Christmas Stories
The History of
'The Twelve Days of Christmas'
The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas carol.
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 the
Church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious
reality which the children could remember. To fit the number scheme,
when you reach number 9, representing the Fruits of the Holy Ghost, the
originator combined 6 to make 3, taking the 6 fruits that were similar:
the fruit in each parenthesis is the that was not named separately.
There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or
girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas
Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that
bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young
by feigning injury to draw away predators.
According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS:
The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
The 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 rerepresented the first five books of the Old
Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God
in sending a Savior.
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-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness
[Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in
The Apostles' Creed.
Original Source: Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, Nebraska
From the Catholic News Agency
|
|
|
|
