Am I the only one who had never heard this story (true or not) about the coded meanings of the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas”?
Apparently, the songs gifts can be linked to hidden meanings for the teaching of faith (some say during the time when Catholicism was banned in England under Cromwell/ the monarchy, but that seems to be a little less true).
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.
The other phrases in the song can be linked as follows:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, the Trinity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Gold Rings = the Pentateuch, the first Five Books of the Old Testament
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Fascinating, whether or not it is true - either about what we appropriate as Christians and then pass on as (pardon the pun) gospel truth, or about what we can find in culture that symbolizes these values to encourage people who are looking for the “great and unsearchable answers” we do not know…
2 comments:
How sad am I posting a comment on my own piece? ;-)
But just heard this song on the radio this morning for the first time in ages and was really struck by the lyrics - especially in relation to Advent: Guiding Star by Cast.
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up
Here comes my guiding star
To take me home
I've traveled lands afar
We blindly roam
We spread our wings
In search of truth
And all it brings
We got a glimpse of a forgotten dream
And we want it to pass to you
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up
Two thousand years apart
And still remain
You carve into my heart
A sacred name
We spread our wings
In search of truth
And all it brings
We got a glimpse of a forgotten dream
And we want it to pass to you
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up
A glimpse of a forgotten dream
Here comes my guiding star
To take me home
I've traveled lands afar
We blindly roam
We spread our wings
In search of truth
And all it brings
We got a glimpse of a forgotten dream
And we want it to pass to you
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up
I didn't know any of the twelve days of Christmas stuff either. So it's not just you.
Pub quizzes - the Cornerhouse does one on a Monday night. Do you think it would be very highbrow and have lots of references to films I haven't seen and wouldn't understand if I had? Better than boring pub quizzes where they asked who scored the winning goal in the world cup in 1947 and who are all these people on a (badly) photocopied sheet of pictures cut out from TV Quick.
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