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.
1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership, and mercy.
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
7 comments:
I've never heard this story before...facinating! Thanks for sharing...
Xandra
Wow! That is so fascinating! Thanks for sharing this! I am passing this on to my students who are performing the 12 Days!
I have heard this before, but it's a fun little reminder!
Oooo I love it. Thanks for sharing that.
It gives me a new appreciation for that song.
Wow I had no idea! Thanks for the lesson, I am printing this to show my husband!!
That's something totally new to me. I've never heard of that before, but what a wonderful story.
That is very cool!!! Never knew that before. You learn something new everyday!!!!
Post a Comment