Christmas Carols are songs that convey the reason and Joy of Christmas!

Silent Night        Away in a Manger        O little town of Bethlehem

The Twelve Days of Christmas        Angels we have heard on High

Little Drummer Boy    

Meaning of the song, "The 12 Days of Christmas"

>From l558 until l829,
Roman Catholics in England
were not allowed 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.
The following list is the symbol used
and what the symbol symbolized:



PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE:
Jesus Christ!


2 TURTLE DOVES:
Old and New Testaments!


3 FRENCH HENS:
Faith, Hope and Love!


4 CALLING BIRDS:
4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!


5 GOLDEN RINGS:
Torah or Law, the First 5 Books of the Old Testament!


6 GEESE A-LAYING:
6 Days of Creation!


7 SWANS A-SWIMMING:
Sevenfold Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy!


8 MAIDS A MILKING:
8 Beatitudes!


9 LADIES DANCING:
Fruit of the Holy Spirit (9 of them!):
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control!


10 LORDS A-LEAPING:
10 Commandments!


11 PIPERS PIPING:
11 Faithful Disciples!


12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING:
12 Points of Belief in the Apostles' Creed!


  "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
  appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
                'Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'"
                       Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)

 

 

 

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