I cannot think about the "days of Christmas" without the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" wending its way through my mind. Many years ago I was told that the song was written during a time when talking about one's beliefs was not okay, and that the song was symbolic for sharing one's theology. I do not know if that is true or not, but it is a fun thought. I will relate an abbreviated version of what I found on Christianity.com:
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. The partridge is purported to be symbolic of Jesus, who died to save us; just as a mother partridge will shelter her young under her wings to protect and save them.
On the second day of Christmas the gift is 2 turtle doves, representing the Old and New Testaments, which are God's Word to us.
On the third day the gift is three French hens, which is for the faith, hope, and love that the Bible teaches. It also represents the Trinity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
On the fourth day of Christmas the gift is four calling birds, which represent the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
On the fifth day of Christmas the gift is five gold rings, which represents the Pentateuch, which is comprised of the first 5 books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy.
On the sixth day of Christmas the gift is six geese-a-laying. Each of the 6 eggs laid are symbolic of the days of creation when God formed the world:
1. God created the heavens and the earth
2. God created the sky and seas
3. God created the land and the plants
4. God created the sun, moon, and stars
5. God created fish and birds
6. God created land animals and man
On the seventh day of Christmas the gift is seven swans-a-swimming. That represents the seven primary gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion.
On the eighth day of Christmas the gift is eight maids-a-milking. These gifts symbolized not only that Jesus came to save everyone - even those of low estate; but it also represents the eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10): (1) the poor in spirit, (2) those who mourn, (3) the meek, (4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, (5) the merciful, (6) the pure in heart, (7) the peacemakers, and (8) those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.
On the ninth day of Christmas the gift was nine ladies dancing. They represent the Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patient Endurance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
On the tenth day of Christmas the gift is ten Lords a-leaping. These 10 stand for the ten commandments:
1. You shall have no other Gods before me (before God!)
2. You shall not make for yourselves any carved image, or bow down to them, or serve them.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work...for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them....
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, male servant, female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that is your neighbor's.
The eleventh day of Christmas is eleven pipers piping. They represent the 11 faithful disciples, but do not include Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. The twelve faithful were comprised of Simon Peter & his brother Andrew, James & his brother John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James & Judas (sons of Alpheus), & Simon the Zealot.
On the twelfth day of Christmas the gift is twelve drummers drumming, and it is connected to the twelve points of doctrine addressed in the Apostles' Creed.
[Just as a point of difference, I do not like the way the Apostle's Creed is written. It takes Jesus out of Creator role - and being fully God as well as fully human, he was as equally Creator as he was human.]
I do not know if this "collection" is legitimate symbolism, but it makes a nice story.
No comments:
Post a Comment