Christmas Song: The Twelve Days of Christmas: 1. ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me: a partridge in a Pear Tree: True Love refers to God. A partridge is the symbol of Christ. 2. ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me: Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Two turtle doves are symbols of the Old and New Testaments. 3. ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Three French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues. 4. ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Four calling birds celebrates fours as in the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, calling out or proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ birth and life. 5. ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Five golden rings represent first and foremost the five most precious crucifixion wounds of Christ, to which there had long been great devotion, and thus the reason for the change in the melody at this point, as well as the perfect circle of faith: God’s love for us, our love for God, and our love for one another. The number five refers as well to the five obligatory sacraments of baptism, penance, Holy Eucharist, confirmation and extreme unction, and the Bibles first five Books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch). 6. ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Six geese a-laying represent the six days of creation. 7. ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Seven swans a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven works of mercy, and the seven sacraments. 8. ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes preached by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, as well as the eight occasions during the year that were prescribed at that time for the reception of the Holy Eucharist. 9. ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Nine ladies dancing are the nine ranks of angel choirs, the spirits who surround the throne of God. 10. ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Ten lords a-leaping represent the 10 Commandments. 11. ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers playing, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French Hens, Two turtle doves And a Partridge in a pear tree. Eleven pipers playing are the 11 surviving apostles proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, is the festive Christian season, beginning on Christmas Day (25 December), that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, as the Son of God. This period is also known as Christmastide. The song was originally sung by the French on Epiphany, otherwise known as Twelfth Night. Symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas was being used as a secret catechism for persecuted Catholics at the time.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 01:28:50 +0000
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