The Story Behind The Song- The Real 12 Days of Christmas by Helen Haidle

In the 16th century, England proclaimed an official state church, and any other religious teaching was strictly forbidden.  So for the next three centuries, those who refused to join the state church developed creative ways to teach children their beliefs.  One popular method was to use lyrics and song. In the book, you will descover the secret Christian symbols concealed in the familiar carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."  This cheerful song, about a generous benefactor who lived to give, could be freely sung without ever using God's name, because "my ture love" refers to God.

The First Day

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.

The first gift of this Christmas song is a partridge, a small bird similar to a qual or a grouse.  The original gift of Christma is Jesus, sent to earth from God.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son." John 3:16  The partridge was known as a valiant bird, willing to fight to death in order to defend its young.  This bird's readiness to die for its young made it an ancient Christian symbol of Christ.  The pear tree represents the cross.

"I am the good shephard...I lay down my life for the sheep. " John 10:14-15

The Socond Day

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtledoves.  

For hundreds of years, Jewish families used turtledoves as offerings to God.  The gift of two turtledoves is a reminder of the sacrifice offered for Jesus by Mary and Joseph.  When Jesus was forty days old, they took him to the temple in Jerusalem.  they brought a sacrifice of two turtledoves as was required by the law.  

"Joseph and Mayr took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord...and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: 'a pair of doves or two young pigeons.'" 

 Luke 2:22,24

The Third Day

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens.

French hens were valuable poultry during the sixteenth century - only the rich could afford them.  These costly birds symbolized the three valuable gifts given to Jesus by the wise men: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Gold was the most precious of all metals.  Frankincense and myrrh were expensive spices used as incense and for burials.

"When they [wise men] saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child...and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts and of incense and of myrrh." Matthew 2:10-11

The Fourth Day

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me four calling birds.

The four calling birds are reminders of the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  These writers of the first four books of the New Testament proclaimed the testimony of Jesus' life and teachings.  Like birds calling out with loud and distinctive voices, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John spread abroad the news of Jesus' life, death, and ressurrection.  They called people to faith in Jesus as their Savior.

"Jesus did many other miraculous signs...which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus in the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."  John 20:30-31

The fifth Day 

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five golden rings.

Gold rings are among the most valuable and treasured of all gifts.  The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  These books, known to the Jews as the Torah, were treated with great reverence and considered to be worth more than gold.  In these books, Moses, the commonly accepted author, records the creation story and the beginning history of the people of Isreal.

"No prophet has fisen in Isreal like Moses, whim the Lord knew face to face...for no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awsome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Isreal.'  Deuteronomy 34:10,12

The Sixth Day

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six geese a-laying.  

In many cultures, eggs symbolize new life.  Six geese laying eggs became reminders of the six days of creation when God, by his Word, brought forth life on earth.  God spoke and filled the earth with plants, birds, animals, and people during the first six days of creation, as found in chapter one of the book of Genesis.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening and there was morning ~ the sixth day."  Genesis 1:1,31

The Seventh Day

On the seventh day of Christmas my true olve gave to me seven swans a-swimming. 

Seven swans symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Just as baby swans grow and change from "ugly ducklings" into beautiful and graceful birds, so God's children grow and change through the work of the Holy Spirit.  The various gifts fo the Holy Spirit are distributed for the benefit of the entire body of Christ.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us.  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."  Romans 12:6-8

The Eighth Day

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking.

The eight milking maidens represents eight unique teaching of Jesus sometimes called the Beatitudes.  These words of Jesus, from his Sermon on the Mount, nurture and strengthen us much the way milk nurishes a child.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit...

Blessed are those who mourn... Blessed are the meek...

Blessed are those hunger and thirst for righteousness...

Blessed are the merciful...Blessed are the pure in heart...

Blessed are the peacemakers...Blessed are those who are persicuted bucause of righteousness."  Matthew 5:3-12

The Ninth Day

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me nine ladies dancing.

The nine ladies remind us of the nine different fruits tha the Holy Spirit produces in the lives of God's children.  Just as these ladies dance joyfully, so can every Christian rejoice over the life-changing fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Gifts like love and joy and peace are worthy of great celebration.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23

The Tenth Day

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ten lords a-leaping.

Lords were men with authority to command people's obedience.  Ten lords a-leaping symbolize God's ten basic laws, otherwise known as the Ten Commandments.

"You shall have no other gods.  You shall not make and bow to any carved images.  You shall not take the name of the Lord you God in vain.  Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  Honor you father and your mother.  You shall not murder.  You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  You shall not covet your neighbor's things."  Exodus 20:3-17 (parapharase)

The Eleventh Day

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping.

Eleven pipers represent the eleven apostles who were chosen by Jesus and remained faithful to him.  (There were twelve before the betrayal and suicide of Judas).  Like children joyfully following a piper, these disciples followed Jesus.  They also called others to follow him.  They piped an everlasting tune of great joy - the salvation message of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

"These are the twelve [Jesus] appointed: Simon ( to whom he have the name peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John... Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:16-19

The Twelth Day

On the twelth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve drummers drumming.

Just as drummers beat out a loud, steady rhythem for marchers to follow, so the Apostle's Creed sets forth the beliefs of those who call themselves Christians.  The twelve drummmers represent the twelve vital Christian beliefs as stated in the Apostle's Creed.

"I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.   He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell; the third day he rose from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.  He shall return to judge both the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the ressurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."

the true meaning of Christmas

We seem to get too wrapped up in things for ourselves, and forget what Christmas is all about.

Christmas is about Jesus.

  "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nasareth, to a town in Galilee, to a virgin pleged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!  the Lord is with you.'  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But hte angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will hive him the throne of his father David, and he will reigh over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'  'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'  The angel 

answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old agge, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.'  'I am the Lord's servent,' Mary answered.  'May it be to me as you have said.'  Then the angel left her.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zachariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your geeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!'

And Mary said:

'My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoicies in God my

Savior,

for he as been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call

me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great

things for me-

holy is his name.

His merch extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud 

in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good

things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants

forever,

even as he said to our fathers.'

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taked of the entire Roman would.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He wnt there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds livin gout in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these thing and pondered theim in her heart.  the shephards returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Luke 1:1-56; 2:1-20

(About two years have passed between this time)

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw the star in the east and have come to worship him.'  When king Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called toghether all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they repied, 'for this is what the prophet has written:

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judeah;

for out of you will come a ruler who wil be the shepard of my people Israel.'

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and wouship him.'  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they was the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they was the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of inscense and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.  

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.  'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.'  So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.  And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'"

Matthew 2:1-15

Train Ride

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, but I have been so busy, especually with the holidays comming so fast.
A few weeks ago, I got to play my violin on the Steaming Into History train that is in New Freedom, and it goes to Scitsland Pennsylvania.  My violin teacher was asked by the train company if her and some of her students would like to play on the train while it travles to Scitsland, where we were dropped off at a tree farm, were some poeple got to go pick out their own christmas tree.  It was lots of fun.

 This is the train station.  

 Getting ready to play.  

 Starting from the left, is Emily, Jenna, and I.

 The lady that is dressed up was the one who make announcements over the intercom. 

 Me infront of the horse drawn carrage that we rode in from the train to the tree farm.

 At the tree farm!

 The trees were growing on the side of a very big hill.  This was the biggest tree farm I have ever been to.  The pictures don't show it too much. 

 the train.

 Two of the horses who were sisters.  Their names were Katie and Isabella. 

 The engion.  

 Playing Pop Goes The Wheesel.  Round one: we flipped our bows,

Round two, we had partners, and I would play my bow on my partner's violin, while my partner would just move their fingers, than we would switch for round three.  Round four, we sat on the floor, with our bow inbetween our legs with the bow hair facing us.  Than we moved our violin up and down across our bow, to play.  Than the last round we spin when we pluck pot, goes.. than on the last three notes, we play with our bow under our leg.  It's kindof confusing to describe, but it was lots of fun.

The train station at night.

Here are videos.  Sorry some of them are really short because the camera was not working correctly.

There's more video's, but I will have to post them some other time.