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Though a host of modern internet sites and some magazine articles have tried to reduce “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to a little more than a silly Christmas carol, most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings. Originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, this song was transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the 12 days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs. By understanding the meaning the clerics chose the 12 days as wrapping for their poem, the full impact of the tradition of the 12 days of Christmas can be understood.
- On the First Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree.
The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas. Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young.
- On the Second Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Two Turtledoves.
These twin birds represent the Old and New Testaments. So in this gift, the singer finds the complete story of the Christian faith and God’s plan for the world. The doves are the biblical roadmap that is available to everyone.
- On the Third Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Three French Hens.
These birds represent faith, hope, and love. This gift hearkens back to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the Apostle Paul.
- On the Fourth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Four Calling Birds.
One of the easiest facets of the song’s code to figure out, these fowl are the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
- On the Fifth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Five Gold Rings.
The gift of the rings represents the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch.
- On the Sixth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Six Geese a-Laying.
These lyrics can be traced back to the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation, a time when the world was “hatched” or formed by God.
- On the Seventh Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Seven Swans a-Swimming.
It would take someone quite familiar with the Bible to identify this gift. Hidden in the code are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion. As swans are one of the most beautiful and graceful creatures on earth, they would seem to be a perfect symbol for the spiritual gifts.
- On the Eighth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Eight Maids-a-Milking.
As Christ came to save even the lowest of the low, this gift represents the ones who would receive his word and accept his grace. Being a milkmaid was about the worst job one could have in England during this period; this code conveyed that Jesus cared as much about servants as he did those of royal blood. The eight who were blessed included the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
- On the Ninth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Nine Ladies Dancing.
These nine dancers were really the gifts known as the fruit of the Spirit. The fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- On the Tenth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Ten Lords a-leaping.
This is probably the easiest gift to understand. As lords were judges and in charge of the law, this code for the Ten Commandments was fairly straightforward to Catholics.
- On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Eleven Pipers Piping.
This is almost a trick question, as most think of the disciples in terms of the dozen. But when Judas betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, there were only eleven men who carried out the gospel message.
- On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Drummers Drumming.
The final gift is tied directly to the Catholic Church. The drummers are the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.”
聖誕節 12 天的歌詞：每個禮物的意義 (簡譯)
儘管許多現代互聯網網站和一些雜誌文章試圖將“聖誕節的十二天”簡化為一首愚蠢的聖誕頌歌，但天主教會的大多數學者認為這是一個非常重要的倖存時期的例子。 教派使用密碼來掩飾他們的教義。 這首歌最初是由天主教神職人員寫的一首詩，在慶祝聖誕節 12 天是最重要的節日習俗之一的時候，這首歌變成了一首頌歌。 通過理解神職人員選擇 12 天作為他們詩歌的包裝的含義，可以理解聖誕節 12 天傳統的全部影響。
1.聖誕節的第一天，我的真愛給了我：梨樹上的鷓鴣。
梨樹上的鷓鴣代表耶穌，上帝的兒子，我們在聖誕節的第一天慶祝他的生日。基督被象徵性地呈現為一隻母鷓鴣，唯一會為了保護幼鳥而死去的鳥。
- 聖誕節的第二天，我的真愛給了我：兩隻斑鳩。
這對斑鳩代表舊約和新約。因此，在這份禮物中，歌手找到了基督教信仰和上帝對世界的計劃的完整故事。鴿子是每個人都可以使用的聖經路線圖。
- 聖誕節第三天，我的真愛給了我：三隻法國母雞。
這些鳥代表信仰、希望和愛。這個禮物可以追溯到哥林多前書 13 章，這是使徒保羅寫的愛的篇章。
- 聖誕節的第四天，我的真愛給了我：四隻會叫的鳥。
歌曲代碼中最容易弄清楚的方面之一，這些家禽是四福音書——馬太福音、馬可福音、路加福音和約翰福音。
- 聖誕節的第五天，我的真愛給了我：五枚金戒指。
戒指的禮物代表舊約的前五卷書，被稱為妥拉或摩西五經。
6.聖誕節的第六天，我的真愛給了我：六隻下蛋的鵝。
這些歌詞可以追溯到聖經中的第一個故事。每個雞蛋都是創造中的一天，這是世界被上帝“孵化”或創造的時間。
7.聖誕節七日，我的真愛給了我：七隻游泳的天鵝。
需要非常熟悉聖經的人才能確定這種恩賜。隱藏在密碼中的是聖靈的七種恩賜：預言、事工、教導、勸勉、給予、領導和憐憫。由於天鵝是地球上最美麗、最優雅的生物之一，它們似乎是精神禮物的完美象徵。
- 聖誕節第八天，我的真愛給了我：八個擠奶的女傭。
當基督來拯救即使是最卑微的人，這份禮物代表那些願意接受他的話語並接受他的恩典的人。在此期間，擠奶女工是英格蘭人所能從事的最糟糕的工作。這段代碼表明耶穌關心僕人，就像他關心那些有王室血統的人一樣。蒙福的八人包括虛心的人、悲哀的人、溫順的人、飢渴慕義的人、慈悲的、清心的人、締造和平的人以及為正義受迫害的人。
9.聖誕節第九天，我的真愛給了我：九個舞者。
這九位舞者真是被稱為聖靈果子的恩賜。所結的果子是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、慷慨、信實、溫柔和節制。
10.聖誕節第十天，我的真愛給了我：十個跳躍的領主。
這可能是最容易理解的禮物。由於領主是法官並掌管法律，因此對天主教徒來說，這是十誡法典。
11.聖誕節第十一天，我的真愛給了我：11個吹笛者。
大多數人認為耶穌有12個門徒可以去傳福音，宣揚主道。但是當猶大背叛耶穌並自殺後，只剩下11個門徒。
12.聖誕節第十二天，我的真愛給了我：十二個打鼓的鼓手。
最後的禮物與天主教會直接相關。鼓手是使徒信經中的 12 點教義。 “我相信上帝，全能的父，天地的創造者。我相信耶穌基督，祂的獨生子，我們的主。祂因聖靈的能力而受孕，由童貞女馬利亞所生。祂在本丟彼拉多手下受苦，被釘在十字架上，死了，埋葬了。祂墮入地獄。第三天，祂復活了。祂升天，坐在父的右邊。祂會再來審判活人死人。我相信聖靈、聖潔的天主教會、聖徒相通、罪得赦免、身體復活和永生。”
