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 ChristmasMy true love gave to me:A partridge in a pear tree.On the second day of ChristmasMy true love gave to me:Two turtle doves andA partridge in a pear tree.On the third day of ChristmasMy true love gave to me:Three french hensTwo turtle doves andA partridge in a pear tree.On the forth day of ChristmasMy true love gave to me:Four calling birdsThree french hens...On the fifth day of ChristmasMy true love gave to meFive golden ringsFour calling birds...On the sixth day of Christmas,My true love gave to meSix geese a-layingFive golden rings...On the seventh day of Christmas,My true love gave to meSeven swans a-swimmingSix geese a-laying...On the eight day of Christmas,My true love gave to meEight maids a-milkingSeven swans a-swimming...On the ninth day of Christmas,My true love gave to meNine ladies dancingEight maids a-milking...On the tenth day of Christmas,My true love gave to meTen lords a-leapingNine ladies dancing...On the eleventh day of Christmas,My true love gave to meEleven pipers pipingTen lords a-leaping...On the Twelfth day of Christmas,My true love gave to meTwelve drummers drummingEleven pipers piping...
And here is a religious interpretation:
1 True Love refers to God2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists5 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 creation7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles12 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]
Interesting. Was this suggesting that the Christian interpretation was the intended meaning or just kind of a creative way of analyzing it?
ReplyDeleteAnd what is the significane under that interpretation of the partridge in the pear tree?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the partridge is Jesus? And the pear tree is the cross? Or just a pear tree? :)
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