Origin of 12 days of Christmas

The Origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas

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?

Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.

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.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.go

Poem

Mother Teresa of Calcutta admonishes
how to be Christ's witness in today's world.

Man is unreasonable, illogical, self-centered;
It doesn't matter, Love him!

If you do good, they attribute it to selfish motives;
It doesn't matter, do good!

If you achieve your goals, you will find false friends and real enemies;
It doesn't matter, achieve them!

The good you will do will be forgotten tomorrow;
It doesn't matter, do them!

Honesty and sincerity make you vulnerable;
It doesn't matter, be frank and honest!

What you have been building for years can be destroyed in an instant;
It doesn't matter, build!

If you help people, they will resent it;
It doesn't matter, help them!

Give the world your best and they will kick you;
It doesn't matter, give your best!

Loneliness amidst Happiness

Family.........................

I was thinking of a topic to write and I was given the deadline, there was nothing i could do but to write the column for this year-ender issue. this is my first time to make a column in this publication. it took me two days to decide on my topic name and at least I found the perfect name for my first column, the title is Family.........................

You might be wondering why Family.........................? the reason is this, when I first arrived here in Canlubang, I already knew that my parents would not be able to visit me every last Sunday of the month because they live far away. I remember my first visiting Sunday, we had a family day in order to welcome the first years. In one of our batch meetings of planning the potluck lunch, I remember what kuya Donnie told the batch: "Let us not forget James doesn't have a visit". Upon hearing that statement I said to myself that my batchmates gave importance to me.

At first it was hard for me to adjust having no visit during visiting Sunday when I was still in Don Bosco Missionary Seminary in Lawaan. I just realize that I am already Canlubang and have to face the reality.

Every time I saw one of my batch mates having a visit I always recall the times when I was with my parents. It may be anywhere, in the mall, at home or just with them.

Whenever I miss them I would just call home and talk to them. I usually call them when i can use my cellphone. There was a time when I forgot to cal home, my mother called me and told me that my lola was angry because I did not called them.

I was so happy when my parents visited me here in Canlubang. It was their first time here in Canlubang and they were excited to see the place and to meet with my formators. Their visit was a memorable moment for me because despite the work that they have back home, they still visited me and stayed with me during the weekend.

This coming vacation I will go home and once more I can be with my parents. It will be two weeks of fun for me. I will make use if their company while I am stil outside the walls of the seminary.