Remembering the season of Hanukkah
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On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two calling birds and
A partridge in a pear tree . . .
Are you also imaging the yard of your family home filled with, not just the scents of pumpkin and apple pie or old-fashioned gingerbread cookies, but also pear trees, birds, milk maids, ladies dancing and lords a leaping?
The 12 days of Christmas is a cheery holiday carol. It’s also a mnemonic device for Catholic teaching. The 12 days of Christmas was first written in the 16th Century in England during a period of Catholic persecution. English Catholics weren’t allowed to celebrate their faith publicly, so they wrote “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
The first day begins with Christmas Day, December 25th, and culminates in the visit from the three wise men on Epiphany, January 6th. English Catholic families of the period enjoyed gathering together each of the twelve days, often bringing children gifts relevant to each particular day. The song helped them remember. In many ways, the lyrics encapsulate Catholic Doctrine, and yet remain light. The 12 Days of Christmas appears as a song of lovers receiving gifts, and yet represents the core values of our belief system. Christ is our true love.
I first published, Celebrate! The 12 Days of Christmas as an article several years ago. The article shows how the famous song represents Catholic Doctrine. Now, I am honoured and happy to share Celebrating the 12 days of Christmas (pen name Rebecca Barry) as a beautifully illustrated book with stunning pictures of hens, calling birds and ladies dancing.
On the third day of Christmas, three French hens arrived in the yard. Their names were: Faith, Hope, and Love. Their eggs provided nourishment to the family of God.
On the fourth day of Christmas, four calling birds sang songs of the four New Testament gospels.
“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
Celebrating the 12 days of Christmas delightfully weaves the song, The 12 Days of Christmas, to the story of our Catholic faith –from partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming: from the birth of Jesus to the Apostles’ Creed. Many blessing this Christmas season. I hope you will enjoy it.
*Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)
