Christmas Trivia
What in the world do leaping lords,
French hens,
swimming swans, and especially that
partridge in
a pear tree have to do with
Christmas?
From 1558 until 1829, 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 partridge in a pear tree was Jesus
Christ.
Two turtledoves were the Old and New
Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, love
and hope.
The four calling birds were for the four
Gospels
of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The Five golden rings recalled the torah
of law, the first
five books of the Old Testament.
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:
Love, Peace, Joy, Patience, Kindness,
Goodness,
Faithfulness, Gentleness,
Self-control.
The ten lords a- leaping were the Ten
Commandments.
Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven
faithful disciples.
Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the
twelve
points of belief in the Apostles` creed.
So, there is your history lesson for
today, it is
interesting and creative.
And now we know how that strange song
became
a Christmas carol!
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