Now, there's a REAL urban legend. Go to http://www.snopes.com and click on
"Christmas" (a tree with flashing lights).
Believe it or not, Protestants also acknowledge the divinity of Christ, use
both Old and New Testaments, read the works of the Four Evangelists, etc.
Now, if there were coded messages about the Pope and the Virgin Mary... that
would make sense.
"The 12 Days of Christmas" is only the most familiar of "counting songs."
Another example is "I bought me a cat."
Liz, renegade Catholic
>From: Peter Louis van Dijk <plvdijk@i...>
>From: Peter Louis van Dijk <plvdijk@i...>
>Reply-To: vocalist-temporary@egroups.com
>To: vocalist-temporary@egroups.com
>Subject: [vocalist-temporary] 12 days of Christmas
>Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2000 19:58:47 +0200
>
>Dear All
>I have been lurking and working for the last couple of months and have
>enjoyed following many of the discussions.This last little spat sure proves
>that Christmas is the silly season!My own family usually manages to have
>the
>biggest arguements just before a concert or on a day which should be
>festive
>or serious. And what are we but one happy, temperamental family!!
>
>On another note, a friend sent me this, which I thought I could share with
>you in the spirit of Christmas.
>
>Happy and peaceful holidays to all!
>
>Regards
>Susi
>Cape Town
>
>
>
>The 12 days of Christmas
>
>What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and
>especially that partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do
>with Christmas? Today I found out!
>
>From l558 until l829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed 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, 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.
>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,
>Self-control.
>
>The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
>
>Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
>
>Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the
>Apostles' Creed.
>
>So there is your history lesson for today. I'm not trying to preach
>etc. but found it interesting and creative and now I know how that
>strange song became a Christmas Carol.
>
>Wasn't that interesting....Merry Christmas everyone.
>
>
>
>
>
>
Elizabeth Finkler
http://home.earthlink.net/~mightymezzo/
mightymezzo@h...
mightymezzo@h...
"...and she knew that we are bound, one to another, in licentious
benevolence, for only a single day, and that day was nearly over." --John
Cheever, "Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor"
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