Can someone illuminate us on this recent Christmas email making the
rounds?  It sounds rather contrived to me.  thanks, ldg
  ______________________________________

-----Original Message-----

Subject: Leaping lords


What do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and a partridge
in a pear tree have to do with Christmas?

 From 1558 to 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 was a
code
word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books
of
     the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy
Spirit:
     Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership,
and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:  Love,
Joy, Peace,
      Patience,  Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and
Self-control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
11. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief
in
       the Apostles' Creed.

************************************





Luisa Del Giudice, Ph.D., Director
Italian Oral History Institute
P.O. Box. 241553
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1553

Telephone:   310/474-1698
Fax:             310/474-3188
E-mail:         [log in to unmask]
Website:      www.iohi.org