I will have to be a bit more charitable to my nosey friend and give her credit where credit is due! She must have felt my displeasure with her and she returned my paper that I intended to use for my Christmas message. She placed it right out in plain sight where I could not miss it, but it was in a place where I would have never put it!
For years and years I was not a fan of the Christmas Carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. What has turtle doves, French hens, geese, leaping lords, swimming swans and partridges in a pear tree have to do with Christmas? Then a few years ago I came across this bit of information. Hope it makes a difference with you, too.
There was a time in England when people were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during this time wrote this Carol as a catechism. It has two levels of meaning. First the hidden meaning known only by members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious meaning which made it easy for the children to remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Christ.The 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 and 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—Prophecy, 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 apostles.The twelve drummers symbolized the twelve points of faith in the Apostles Creed.Thus we have the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.
For a recipe this week apply the scripture reading “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you”.
Wishing each and every one of you a Holy and Merry Christmas and a fantastic year of 2024!
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