History in a Christmas Carol
One Christmas Carol that has always baffled me: what in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially a partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
Read on:
From 1559 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 the young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning, the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to the members of their church.
Each element in the carol has code word for a religious reality the children could remember.
The 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.
The four calling birds were for the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a swimming represented the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit – Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
The 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 and Self Control.
The ten lords a leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
Th twelve drummers drumming symbolizes the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed.
So there is your history for today. I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol!
Merry Christmas one and all!
Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute
