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Further
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Gemstones, Color and Mystical Symbolism
The universe of colored gemstones is endlessly fascinating, for centuries, nearly every culture has held the belief that colored stones possess magical powers or the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. Due to the magical powers...
Save Time and Money when Gift Shopping For The Holiday Season
With the Holiday season coming in a few months, people are all agog in coming up with a list of gifts that will fit their budget. Perhaps, one of the worst things about the season of joy is counting the remaining dollars in your wallet after a round...
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Millions of people everyday rely on fire extinguishers to put out minor fires which start in the home. Fire extinguishers contain a powder which is known to instantly put out a fire and prevent it from spreading any further. In 2004, fire...
Choosing the Perfect Jogging Stroller
When choosing the perfect jogging stroller, a very important question to ask yourself is whether you want a swivel or fixed wheel. The benefit of choosing a jogging stroller with a fixed wheel is that it will offer the stability and straight...
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A Christmas History Lesson
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Written By:
Catherine Spelling
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The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of the most famous Christmas carols ever written. It has been sung for a great many years, and is known the world over. To most it is a delightful hymn, but it was originally created with a very serious intent. In England between the years of 1558 and 1829, it was illegal to practice Catholicism in public or private. It was essentially a crime to be Catholic in England during those years.
The Twelve Days of Christmas was written to help preserve the traditions of the Catholic faith during the years that Catholicism was banned in England. The song is steeped in symbolism, and the fact that it is so well known throughout the world is a testament to the faith of the followers of the Catholic doctrine. The symbols contained in the song are as follows:
1st verse "True Love" refers to God.
2nd verse "2 Turtle Doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd verse "3 French Hens" refers to Faith, Hope, and Charity.
4th verse "4 Calling Birds" refers to the Four Gospels or the Four Evangelists.
5th verse "5 Golden Rings" refers to the first five Books of the Old Testament.
6th verse "6 Geese-a-laying" refers to the six days of creation.
7th verse "7 Swans-a-swimming" refers to the seven sacraments.
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8th verse "8 Maids-a-milking" refers to the eight beatitudes.
9th verse "9 Ladies dancing" refers to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10th verse "10 Lords-a-leaping" refers to the Ten Commandments.
11th verse "11 Pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th verse "12 Drummers drumming" refers to the twelve points of the Apostle's creed.
I love this song. It is, by far, my favorite Christmas carol. I had no idea about the symbols contained in the song, until I googled the song lyrics one afternoon. I find it very interesting that a song we all know so well could contain so many hidden meanings. I would never have guessed that it was anything more than lovely Christmas carol. It's always nice to learn something new, especially about the wonderful celebration of Christmas. I hope you learned something, too. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Catherine Spelling absolutely loves spending Christmas with family and friends. When she is not counting down the days until Christmas, she writes for http://www.christmaslightsanddecorations.com/
Copyright Catherine Spelling - http://www.christmaslightsanddecorations.com/
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A Promise Ring- More than Just a Pre-Engagement Ring
When one thinks of a promise ring it is common to think of a small, inexpensive ring given to a woman as a promise of marriage in the future; however, this is not always the case. A promise ring has several other purposes besides being a...
Halloween Opens Creativity
Halloween is a time for both adults and kids alike to delve into their creative sides and dream up inventive Halloween costumes. It is also a time when people want to be something that they cannot be in their everyday lives. Some people choose to...
Choosing the Right Summer Camp
Have you begun thinking about which summer camp is best for your child? With some 7,000 camps across the nation, and more internationally, its no wonder parents find it hard to sort through all the information. Below are some tips to help you find...
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