12.23.2011

Twelve Days Of Christmas


A few years ago, I came across a religious interpretation of the popular Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Here are the lyrics:
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the forth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Four calling birds
Three french hens...

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds...

On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings...

On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying...

On the eight day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming...

On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking...

On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing...

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping...

On the Twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping...
And here is a religious interpretation:
1 True Love refers to God

2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
I am too busy wrapping and shopping to look up what the writer's intention was but I found this interesting. :)

Merry Christmas Eve eve!

[image courtesy of this book]

3 comments:

  1. Interesting. Was this suggesting that the Christian interpretation was the intended meaning or just kind of a creative way of analyzing it?

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  2. And what is the significane under that interpretation of the partridge in the pear tree?

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    Replies
    1. Maybe the partridge is Jesus? And the pear tree is the cross? Or just a pear tree? :)

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