November 25, 2015

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

Eloise-NEW-2014By Eloise Graham

Music of the Season

I thought and thought about what my topic would be for this December. A stroll down memory lane of Christmas’ past came to mind; my family’s traditions, my husband’s family’s traditions, our traditions and then our children’s and their family traditions. All were changing yet remaining the same year after year. But Mary Schricker Gemberling wrote such an excellent article about traditions, the old and the new, as life changes unfold around us with extended and blended, and ever-growing families, that I felt compelled to take a different avenue.

So I decided on the music that often reminds of long ago Decembers, or puts us in the shopping mood, or the baking mood… or just sitting and watching chestnuts roast by an open fire.

Baby, it’s cold outside. There are songs of winter wonderlands, snowflakes, sleigh rides and skating. There are songs of the jolly old fellow, toys, parades, reindeer and elves. There are songs of Hanukkah, promises and candles. There are carols of the Christian faith that tell of the birth of a baby, a savior. But where oh where does “The Twelve Days of Christmas” fit into any of this? I suppose that eight maids a-milking and ten lords a-leaping could go into the parade and reindeer category.

Well, I recently got an email that tells it all. I am not for sure if it is factual or just someone’s explanation, but it sure makes sense of the song. The email went like this:
“What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans and that partridge that won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Here’s the answer.

‘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.

– The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.
– Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.
– Three French hens stands for faith, hope and love.
– Four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
– Five golden rings recall the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
– Six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
– Seven swans a-swimming represents the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
– Eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.
– Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
– Ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
–  Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.
– Twelve drummers drumming symbolizes the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
– My true love is God the Father ‘

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me, and I found it interesting and enlightening. Now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.”

With that I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Peace and love in 2016.

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