[George Thompson]

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? 
This week, 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: 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.

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-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.


Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone