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The real meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:00 am
by rocklobster
I thought I'd repost this for all you newbies. We've all sung the 12 Days of Christmas. But did you know it's actually a secret list of the "gifts" of Christianity?
Here's what the gifts really are:
  1. the partridge in the pear tree: Jesus Christ
  2. the turtledoves: the Old and New Testament
  3. the French Hens: the Holy Trinity
  4. the Calling Birds: the four writers of the gospels
  5. the Golden Rings: The first five books of the Pentateuch (sp?)
  6. the Geese a-laying: the six days of creation (note: God rested on the seventh, so it doesn't count)
  7. the Swans a-swimming: the seven sacraments
  8. the Maids a-milking: the eight beautitudes
  9. the Ladies dancing: the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit
  10. the Lords a-leaping: the 10 commandments
  11. the Pipers Piping: the 11 faithful apostles (Judas betrayed, so he's not faithful)
  12. the Drummers Drumming: the 12 tribes of Israel.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:32 am
by TheMelodyMaker
Interesting; I didn't know that before. :) (Not sure what the "seven sacraments" are, though. ^_^; )

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:38 am
by Tenshi no Ai
Really? Not sure why they'd make it such a symbolic song going from Bible stuff to birds and the like^^

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:31 am
by beau99

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:30 pm
by Technomancer
[quote="TheMelodyMaker"]Interesting]

They're the seven sacraments recognized by the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Baptism
Confession
Communion
Confirmation
Marriage
Holy Orders (ordination)
Extreme Unction (last rites)

Of course, as beau99 has pointed out there are strong problems with attributing the items in the song to religious symbolism.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:46 pm
by Nate
I found it interesting that since the five golden rings are actually pheasants, that means the first seven gifts are birds.

Man. That woman sure must've liked birds. Or at least her true love had better hope that she does. XD

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:19 pm
by Tommy

Check the status.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:33 pm
by Nate
Tom Dincht wrote:Check the status.

Um...yeah. It says the status is "False." That's what beau was saying. That the song has no religious connotations.

I fail to see what you're trying to say.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:30 pm
by Tommy
Oh, I don't think it needs any explanation.

Just know I misunderstood him.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:26 pm
by Tenshi no Ai
Hm what do you know? It's like today how I found out that pointsettas poisoning and killing animals is an urban legend too, apparently (unless they eat a VERY unreasonable amount of it).