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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christian Code in the Song: Partridge in a Pear Tree

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.

From 1558 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 young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which 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 the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The 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, 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.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

5 comments:

Jane Lebak said...

Sorry -- urban legend. :-)
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp

It's just a stupid song, nothing more.

Kat Heckenbach said...

Cool!

Andra M. said...

I'll never think of that song the same way again! Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Amy Deardon said...

Hi Philangelus, thanks for the link! Oh well. I do think even if it's a legend, it's not a bad way to think of this song, especially when it goes on, and on, and on...

Jane Lebak said...

I think it's a memory test that only becomes fun if you've had lots and lots of spiked eggnog, and then you sit around laughing as people can't seem to remember what number they're on, what comes next, or nine of what.