Awakening Ministries, Inc 

This is interesting so I thought I would pass it along. There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming Swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.

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.

First Day of Christmas: The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Second Day of Christmas: Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.

Third Day of Christmas: Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

Fourth Day of Christmas: The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

Fifth Day of Christmas: The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

Sixth Day of Christmas: The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

Eighth Day of Christmas: The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

Tenth Day of Christmas: The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

Eleventh Day of Christmas: The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

Twelfth Day of Christmas: The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...

Submitted by: Charmaine Burman