It's Christmas again and for those who are wondering about the tradition of Christmas, you can read about it in a previous blog entry Merry Christmas.
Every year Christmas for me is about spending time with loved ones and this year is no different. This Christmas has been quite a real rush for me and I had completed my final shopping on Friday, the eve of Christmas Eve, and sent out my cards barely just 2 weeks earlier (usually I would send them out much earlier).
My department had a mini Christmas party on Friday and my boss sponsored us a huge turkey, salmon and other delicious goodies. During this time, the meaning of the 12 days of Christmas was introduced to us:
A 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.
Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
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, exortation, contribution, leadership, and mercy.
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.
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.
I guess we all learn something new each day... Here's the song that started it all:
Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
The second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
The third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French Hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
The fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Four calling birds . . .
The fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five golden rings . . .
The sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying . . .
The seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming . . .
The eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking . . .
The ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing . . .
The tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping . . .
The eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping . . .
The twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, one and all!
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