Page 29 - 200712 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2007

"The 12 Days of Christmas" 29 "The 12 Days of Christmas" 29 ORIGIN OF ORIGIN OF Santa's Using Cutting-Edge Internet "THE TWELVE DAYS Video Technology to Deliver Old "THE TWELVE DAYS Fashioned Christmas Cheer at OF CHRISTMAS" OF CHRISTMAS" Hospitals in the U.S. and Canada - Cisco Systems Fr. Hal Stockert You're all familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I think. To most it's a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written. It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts. Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were and New Testaments. died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by right hand of the father and will come again, the law - private OR public. It was a crime to BE a 3rd Day: resurrection of the dead and life everlasting. [] Catholic. The "three French hens" stand for faith, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that written in England as one of the "catechism abide (1 Corinthians 13). songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith - a memory aid, when to be caught 4th Day: with anything in *writing* indicating adherence The "four calling birds" refers to the to the Catholic faith could not only get you four evangelists who wrote the Gospels— imprisoned, it could get you hanged, or Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the shortened by a head - or hanged, drawn and song of salvation through Jesus Christ. quartered, a rather peculiar and ghastly punishment I'm not aware was ever practiced 5th Day: anywhere else. Hanging, drawing and The "five golden rings" represents the quartering involved hanging a person by the first five books of the Bible, also called the neck until they had almost, but not quite, Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, suffocated to death; then the party was taken Numbers and Deuteronomy. down from the gallows, and disembowelled PREMIERE PSYCHICS while still alive; and while the entrails were still 6th Day: PREMIERE PSYCHICS lying on the street, where the executioners The "six geese a-laying" is the six days stomped all over them, the victim was tied to of creation. four large farm horses, and literally torn into five parts - one to each limb and the remaining 7th Day: torso. The "seven swans a-swimming" refers The songs gifts are hidden meanings to to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, the teachings of the faith. The "true love" understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly piety and fear of the Lord. suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized 8th Day: person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus The "eight maids a milking " reminded Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is children of the eight beatitudes listed in the symbolically presented as a mother partridge Sermon on the Mount. which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the 9th Day: expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22- would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as 23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self it so..." control. Isn't it incredible how great it feels 1st Day: 10th Day: The partridge in a pear tree is Christ The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the when you connect with a psychic who Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is Ten Commandments authentically cares AND has talent? symbolically presented as a mother partridge At Premiere Psychics, that is exactly because she would feign injury to decoy a 11th Day: what you will find. Great talent! predator away from her nestlings. She was even The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the Great people! Visit them today at willing to die for them. eleven faithful apostles. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the www.premierepsychics.com human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It 12th Day: is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were or call them on their toll free number: Christ on the tree of the Cross. the twelve points of belief expressed in the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was 1-866-803-6593 Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the 2nd Day: The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified,