[Mishmash] FW: Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

[William Smyth]

       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.


      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:
      Only members of their church kn ew the surface meaning plus the hidden 
meanin g.
      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, hope and love.

      -The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & 
John.

      -The five golden rings recalled the Torah or 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 eigh t beatitudes.

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

      -The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

      -The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

      -The twelve drummers drumming symbolized t he 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.