Neddy's Palaver

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th), which is when the three wise men supposedly arrived on the scene. It is NOT the twelve days before Christmas as many erroneously believe. The lovely story following is now considered by the erudite amongst us as an Internet Urban Legend with no basis in fact. However, the “Twelve Days of Christmas” was first found in print in 1790, and was already traditional. Its origin seems to have been French as was the word “carol.” Christmas Caroling was derived from the French word “caroller,” which means dancing around in a circle. Joyous revelers at Christmastime danced in a circle around the creche, joyously singing Christmas carols. Such Christmas celebrating was banned in England during the Protestant Cromwell reign and many of the oldest Christmas songs and their history were lost forever.

An Underground Catechism from “Drennon’s Twelve Days of Christmas”

Most folks, I believe, are familiar with the Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” If you listen to the words carefully, it seems like nonsence set to rhyme and music. However, it was written with a serious purpose.

It is more than just a list of twelve silly gifts. Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic. [Note: Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.]

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written in England as one of the “catechism songs” to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song. Actually, the catecism to which it referred was rather ecumenical so could probably be claimed to be protestant if cornered.

The song’s gifts had hidden meanings to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The “true love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the church. The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge in memory of the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so…”

Here is a complete list of the 12 symbols with their meanings*

* 1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ
* 2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
* 3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
* 4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
* 5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch which contain the law condemning us of our sins.
* 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
* 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith
* 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
* 9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Spirit
* 10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
* 11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
* 12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Dennis Bratcher

Christmas is Christians’ flawed attempt to honor the birthday of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He deserves better, but the harder we try to honor Him, the more we seem to diminish the celebration. I am certain that Jesus understands us better than we understand ourselves.

The image, Creche at Washington Cathedral, was originally uploaded by Edna Barney. It is posted here from Barneykin’s account.

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” (John 19:38-42 KJV)

Mural of Jesus from the Crypt at Washington National Cathedral

The chapel that contains this mural is located on the crypt level of the cathedral. It contains New Testament imagery that show the promise of eternal life: Jesus’ birth, his death and entombment, and his resurrection. This somber mural tells the story of Jesus’s entombment following the crucifixion. I snapped the photograph at the CHAPEL OF SAINT JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA. Joseph was the wealthy man who gave his tomb for the burial of Christ’s body after the crucifixion.

The image, Mural of Jesus, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Barneykin’s account.

Visit Neddy’s Archives for more of Edna’s writings.

Today, January 5th is the Eve of the Epiphany.

For our ancestors, who celebrated “Old Christmas,” the night preceding January 6th is the Eve of Epiphany. It was on this night, over 2000 years ago, that the Magi came to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus.

Today, the Day of Epiphany is still known as “Old Christmas,” which was the day that Christmas was celebrated before the calendar changed in the 18th century. One of the old beliefs concerning the Day of Epiphany was that a person should never lend anything to anybody on Old Christmas Day, because the lender would never get it back again. Also, the Eve of Epiphany is the night when the Holy Spirit manifests Itself upon the earth in many subtle ways. Upon that night, no matter how hard the ground was frozen, elder bushes would sprout from the ground. Even more mysterious is our ancestors’ belief that at midnight on Old Christmas Eve, if they crept silently into a barn or field, they could hear the cattle and sheep praying. At the exact stroke of midnight on Old Christmas Eve, animals would start moo-ing and baa-ing and bellowing as though they were crying, in remembrance of their own ancestors who had been present in the stable at Bethlehem to witness the birth of the Christ Child and His revelation to the Magi.

A wonderful book that I am reading about celebrating Christmas in England of long ago is “Old Christmas” by Washington Irving.

• “On The Twelth Day of Christmas”
• Old Christmas in Rodanthe, North Carolina.
• Epiphany 2007

The image, The Epiphany, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Barneykin’s account.

Visit Neddy’s Archives for more of Edna’s writings.

I made this Christmas card using Picnik. My 2008 Christmas Card, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Barneykin’s FLICKR account.

My Christmas Gifts For You

Twas The Night Before Christmas read to you by Librivox.org.
• Saint Francis and the Creche
• Old Christmas Eve
• An American Christmas Carol
• Christmas Archives
• The Christmas Story
• Annie’s Wiseman Page
• A White House Christmas
  See the Barney Cam!
• A Swedish Merry Christmas
• A Victorian Christmas Scrapbook
• Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
• “Old Christmas” by Washington Irving
• A Neddy Christmas

Visit Neddy’s Archives for more of Edna’s writings.

The Choral Group from Carl Sandburg Middle School, directed by Jeanne Crowley, concluded their presentation for Nelly Custis DAR chapter with "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," performed on the main staircase of the Woodlawn Mansion, Woodlawn, Virginia. Regent Pamela wanted her chapter to experience a brief moment from a long ago Virginia holiday. It was as though we had been transported back to those early American days of Nelly Custis Lewis and her family when they celebrated Christmas at Woodlawn Plantation, with no radios, televisions, cds and computers.

The talented young women sang a musical round also that I have not the title. The video is posted here: My Flickr Album.

In the Bible a story is told, About a traveler at the end of life’s road …
I Love This, a gospel ballad written by Iris DeMent, telling Bible stories about the Good Samaritan and more. She is singing her song in her incredible voice while playing the piano. Read the words that I have posted below the video. You can watch the video in full screen as it is quite good quality.

“He Reached Down” by Iris Dement

(Verse 1)
A certain man one day did go, down to Jericho,
Falling among thieves along the way.
Well they stripped him then they fled,
Leaving him for dead,
Lying on the side of the road.

And then the priest came passing by,
He crossed over to the other side,
Then the Levite came and he did just the same.

When the Samaritan heard his cry,
He just could not pass on by;
He dressed his wounds and he carried him to the nearest inn.

(Chorus)
He reached down, he reached down;
He got right there on the ground;
He reached down, he reached down,
And he touched the pain.

He paid the keeper the amount that was due.
“If you need more he said I’m good for that too.”
He reached down, he reached down,
And he touched the pain.

(Verse 2)
Then the Scribes and the Phrases,
Brought the adulteress in for Jesus to see.
“Lord, she’s sinned, now the law says she must be stoned.”
“If there’s a one of you that’s without sin,”
Said “you can cast the first stone in.”
One by one they left, leaving Jesus and that woman alone.

(Sing Chorus)

“No accusers are left that I see,
Woman, neither do I condemn thee.”
He reached down, He reached down,
And He touched the pain.

(Verse 3)
In the Book a little story got told,
About the traveler at the end of life’s road.
He’s at the gates of the Kingdom and the Master says “Come on in,
For I was hungry and you gave Me meat;
I was cold you put shoes on My feet;
When I was in prison there was you who come to see about Me.”

(Chorus – Modified)
Well you reached down, you reached down.
You got right there on the ground.
You reached down, you reached down,
And you touched my pain.

“When you did it to the least of these,
He said you were doin’ it unto Me.
You reached down, you reached down,
And ye touched my pain.”

He reached down, He reached down,
And He touched the pain.
He said “reach down, all reach down,
And touch the pain.”

In the mid 1600s, the Catholic BRENT family sailed across the Potomac from Maryland to Aquia, Virginia and settled at the Colony of Brenton. This was the first Catholic settlement in English Virginia. When the BRENTS were colonizing Maryland, Giles BRENT had done just as John ROLFE, who had married an Indian princess at Jamestown. BRENT’s bride was a 12-year-old student or ward of his spinster sister Margaret BRENT, who was operating a school for the Piscataway children. When GILES claimed almost all the land of the Maryland Colony due to his marriage to the Piscataway chief’s daughter, he got himself, and his BRENT sisters, into a dangerous situation with the Lord Baltimore government. The BRENTS were forced to cross the river and live in Virginia.

Margaret BRENT was America’s first suffragette, but few have ever heard of her. She was an outstanding, accomplished women. She acted as Lord Baltimore’s attorney, and in fact was probably running the government of the colony. She was able to own property, because she never married, and she even demanded the right to vote. It was denied of course, but the Marylanders did bestow upon her the title of “Gentleman” Margaret BRENT. After the move to Virginia, she seemed never quite so powerful, probably because of her “out of favor” Catholic religion.

This plaque is at the Crucifix Monument on the east side of Jefferson Davis Highway, at Telegraph Road, in Aquia, Virginia.

“The Five Finger Prayer” was received from the Internet without attribution. I altered it into a “Prayer of Gratitude” as I have been reading G.K. Chesterton, and have always subscribed to this thought of his: I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~~G.K. Chesterton

1. Your thumb is nearest to you. Begin your daily prayers by giving thanks for those closest to you; they are the easiest to remember and to pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis wrote, a “sweet duty.”

2. The next finger is your pointing finger. Remember to give thanks for those who are “pointing” you and your loved ones in the right direction: teachers, doctors, and the clergy. Bless them in your prayers.

3. Next comes the tallest finger. Thank God for the good and faithful leaders He has provided you. Ask God to give them the guidance necessary to lead those following them in the path of righteousness.

4. The fourth finger is the weakest finger. It reminds you to be grateful for your strengths. It reminds you to remember those who are truly weak, in desperate circumstances, or in physical agony, and to ask God to give you the strength to help them.

5. The little finger is the last finger and the smallest of all. The little finger reminds you to give thanks to God for His greatness and for His mercifulness to one as small as you are in relation to God.

Be Grateful. It is the way to happiness.