There is one Christmas Carol that can cause people to ask, "What does that have to do with Christmas?" or "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 anything related to the Christmas holiday?"
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.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves 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 eight 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 the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
The Apostles' Creed
1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave].
5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
7) I believe in the Holy Spirit,
8) the holy catholic Church,
The word catholic means relating to, or forming the undivided church universal
9) the communion of saints,
10) the forgiveness of sins,
11) the resurrection of the body,
12) and life everlasting.
Twelve Days of Christmas
Alternate Lyrics
On the first day of Christmas Jesus gave to me SALVATION FULL AND FREE.
On the second day of Christmas Jesus gave to me EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the third day of Christmas Jesus gave to me PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the fourth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the fifth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the sixth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the seventh day of Christmas Jesus gave to me A BODY GLORIFIED, POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the eighth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me A ROBE AND A CROWN, A BODY GLORIFIED, POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the ninth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me MANSIONS ABOVE, A ROBE AND A CROWN, A BODY GLORIFIED, POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the tenth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me STREETS OF PURE GOLD, MANSIONS ABOVE, A ROBE AND A CROWN, A BODY GLORIFIED, POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the eleventh day of Christmas Jesus gave to me A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING, STREETS OF PURE GOLD, MANSIONS ABOVE, A ROBE AND A CROWN, A BODY GLORIFIED, POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
On the twelfth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me ETERNITY TO PRAISE, A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING, STREETS OF PURE GOLD, MANSIONS ABOVE, A ROBE AND A CROWN, A BODY GLORIFIED, POWER FROM ON HIGH, JOY FOR MY SOUL, LOVE FOR ALL MEN, PEACE IN MY HEART, EVERLASTING LIFE AND SALVATION FULL AND FREE
Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone
Jubilee Family Church
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