"Who Gets 12 Days for Christmas?"
Really now. “Who gets 12 days for Christmas?” was the question I was asking everybody this year. Everyone knows the song but who are these people who get a 12 day Christmas? I want a 12 day Christmas! Something isn’t right. I felt like the whole 12 day deal was a scam to make those of us who get one day—or a day and a half if you factor in Christmas Eve—feel slighted. I concluded there was nothing to this song.
I was wrong. Come to find out there is more to the song than I knew.
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.
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 & 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.
-Roger Fields
Pretty cool, huh?
I am taking Calleigh to the Urgent care today. I called her doctor and he told me that he was delivering a baby and did not have time to get her in, but he wanted me to take her before the weekend and the holidays! She is just coughing all of the time and has a pretty bad cold. I called him on Monday and he told me some medicines to try, but they are not getting the job done! So, we are off to Urgent Care.
Today is my last day to work until January 5, and I am very excited to have time off, even though my weeks are busy!
On 12-22, I have to go get fitted for my dress for Katie's wedding, on 12-23 I have to go to the doctor, on 12-24 we go to Andrew's mom's at 3 and then to my parents at 6, then to our house for a new Christmas tradition. We have a little article called "The Meaning of Christmas" we are going to read to Calleigh before bed. On 12-25, we will get up, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and open present at our house, then we are off to Andrew's dad's house for lunch and to the Wibbeler family Christmas at 5 for dinner, followed by my Grandma Hays' at 7. The 26th we are leaving at noon(or earlier) so we can get checked into out hotel, pick up Andrew's tux and go to rehearsal dinner. The next day (27th) is Andrew's sister, Katie's wedding. We will be busy all day with that. On the 28th we are coming home! Yeah!
(I hope to post some interesting stories and pictures from the 2 weeks I have off when I get back!)
So, as you can see we have a busy holiday ahead! I hope that God blesses each one of you over this busy holiday season! Remember, Jesus is the reason! God Bless!
