Remember to click the GIVEAWAYS tab to enter the current giveaway!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Feeling Christ in Christmas

I'm really excited to be guest posting over at
about our family's best Christmas ever.
Please zip on over - it's an all-around amazing blog!


WINNER OF CHRISTMAS JARS & CHRISTMAS JARS:
I stole this idea from my sweet blog-friend, Special 'K'.
Christmas is just too exciting for me to take up any of my blogspace talking about anything else.
So a couple of things:
CANDY CANE POPCORN is delicious AND easy to make.
Pop the popcorn
Coat in white chocolate
sprinkle in crushed candy canes.

Next, have you ever wondered what 7 swans-a-swimmin or a partridge in a pear tree have to do with Christmas? I was visiting a friend this week when she shared the history of this song with me:
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 = FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY
-Four Calling Birds = MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE & JOHN the 4 Gospels
-Five Golden Rings = TORAH or LAW, the FIRST 5 BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
-Six Geese a-Laying = 6 DAYS OF CREATION
-Seven Swans a-Swimming = SEVEN-FOLD GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
-Eight Maids a-Milking = 8 BEATITUDES
-Nine Ladies Dancing = 9 FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
-Ten Lords a-Leaping = 10 COMMANDMENTS
-Eleven Pipers Piping = 11 FAITHFUL DISCIPLES
-Twelve Drummers Drumming = 12 POINTS OF BELIEF IN THE APOSTLES' CREED





11 comments:

  1. Fascinating!! I had no idea and I went to a Catholic elementary school and my daughter had 12 years of Catholic school. Well, she might have learned it but I didn't. Must ask her. SO glad you shared this info. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. About to check out your post over at Someone in Mind. Have a great Friday!

    http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow that is so neat! I was just listening to this song yesterday and was wondering where it came from!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very interesting! I'll have to share this with my family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. How is it that every time I visit here I learn something new?
    This is truly fabulous and I'll be sharing with Captain V and the Gifts.

    Happiest of happy days, am off to read your guest post pronto....

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are a very Special Lady thank you so much for the mention. Thank you always for sharing your special spirit with us and especially at this time of the year. I am always amazed when I discover particular meanings of sayings, some I have said so very often without really knowing their true meaning or origin. Thanks for sharing. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh wow I had NO idea behind the origins of that song! That is really cool to know, so thank you for educating us. :)

    PS. Off to check out your guest post! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is a REAL "Gee Whiz"! How fascinating to know that! Now, if I can commit it to memory I will be able to think on those things as I sing/listen to that wonderful, fun Christmas Carol. I too learn something new nearly everytime I visit your blog, and you are MY daughter!!! How cool is that?

    Hugs
    Mother

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thought I'd stop by, and say hello! Congrats to your winner! Hope all is fine with you and enjoying the Christmas season. I love this time of year!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That's awesome. I love that song.
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete