Yes, we’re all familiar with the old English Christmas carol . . . on the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves.   It’s a carol to challenge our memories as we try to keep all twelve days and their gifts straight.  I’m told that the gifts presented by the “true love” are increasingly grand.   It begins with one French hen and progresses all the way to twelve drummers drumming.   That would be one noisy celebration!

But where on earth did the author come up with such strange gifts?   I’m told that the carol was actually written as a catechism for young Catholics.  Since Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly from 1558 to 1829, each “gift” had a hidden meaning, known only to members of the church.   It’s like a secret code to help children remember important things about their faith.   Don’t know if it’s true, but here are the hidden messages:

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testament.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
Five golden rings recalled the Torah, and the first five books of the Old Testament.
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.
Eight maids a milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.
Ten lords a leaping were the ten commandments.
Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples
Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostle’s Creed.*

So that’s your history lesson for today.   And whether or not it’s true, for today I wish you the gift of two turtle doves.  Turtle doves symbolize love and faithfulness because they mate for life, work together to build nests and raise their young together.  It’s a lovely picture of the relationship we’d like to build with each other, built on kindness and trustworthiness.  And it’s surely a picture of the picture of the relationship we have with our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is always faithful.   He loves you every day of your life.  Read Matthew 5:3-10, and remember: God loves you unconditionally.

Judy

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:3-10

* http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/advent/customs-and-traditions/the-history-of-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/