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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.”
圣诞节 12 天的歌词：每个礼物的意义 (简译)
尽管许多现代互联网网站和一些杂志文章试图将“圣诞节的十二天”简化为一首愚蠢的圣诞颂歌，但天主教会的大多数学者认为这是一个非常重要的幸存时期的例子。 教派使用密码来掩饰他们的教义。 这首歌最初是由天主教神职人员写的一首诗，在庆祝圣诞节 12 天是最重要的节日习俗之一的时候，这首歌变成了一首颂歌。 通过理解神职人员选择 12 天作为他们诗歌的包装的含义，可以理解圣诞节 12 天传统的全部影响。
1.圣诞节的第一天，我的真爱给了我：梨树上的鹧鸪。
梨树上的鹧鸪代表耶稣，上帝的儿子，我们在圣诞节的第一天庆祝他的生日。基督被象征性地呈现为一只母鹧鸪，唯一会为了保护幼鸟而死去的鸟。
- 圣诞节的第二天，我的真爱给了我：两只斑鸠。
这对斑鸠代表旧约和新约。因此，在这份礼物中，歌手找到了基督教信仰和上帝对世界的计划的完整故事。鸽子是每个人都可以使用的圣经路线图。
- 圣诞节第三天，我的真爱给了我：三只法国母鸡。
这些鸟代表信仰、希望和爱。这个礼物可以追溯到哥林多前书 13 章，这是使徒保罗写的爱的篇章。
- 圣诞节的第四天，我的真爱给了我：四只会叫的鸟。
歌曲代码中最容易弄清楚的方面之一，这些家禽是四福音书——马太福音、马可福音、路加福音和约翰福音。
- 圣诞节的第五天，我的真爱给了我：五枚金戒指。
戒指的礼物代表旧约的前五卷书，被称为妥拉或摩西五经。
6.圣诞节的第六天，我的真爱给了我：六只下蛋的鹅。
这些歌词可以追溯到圣经中的第一个故事。每个鸡蛋都是创造中的一天，这是世界被上帝“孵化”或创造的时间。
7.圣诞节七日，我的真爱给了我：七只游泳的天鹅。
需要非常熟悉圣经的人才能确定这种恩赐。隐藏在密码中的是圣灵的七种恩赐：预言、事工、教导、劝勉、给予、领导和怜悯。由于天鹅是地球上最美丽、最优雅的生物之一，它们似乎是精神礼物的完美象征。
- 圣诞节第八天，我的真爱给了我：八个挤奶的女佣。
当基督来拯救即使是最卑微的人，这份礼物代表那些愿意接受他的话语并接受他的恩典的人。在此期间，挤奶女工是英格兰人所能从事的最糟糕的工作。这段代码表明耶稣关心仆人，就像他关心那些有王室血统的人一样。蒙福的八人包括虚心的人、悲哀的人、温顺的人、饥渴慕义的人、慈悲的、清心的人、缔造和平的人以及为正义受迫害的人。
9.圣诞节第九天，我的真爱给了我：九个舞者。
这九位舞者真是被称为圣灵果子的恩赐。所结的果子是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、慷慨、信实、温柔和节制。
10.圣诞节第十天，我的真爱给了我：十个跳跃的领主。
这可能是最容易理解的礼物。由于领主是法官并掌管法律，因此对天主教徒来说，这是十诫法典。
11.圣诞节第十一天，我的真爱给了我：11个吹笛者。
大多数人认为耶稣有12个门徒可以去传福音，宣扬主道。但是当犹大背叛耶稣并自杀后，只剩下11个门徒。
12.圣诞节第十二天，我的真爱给了我：十二个打鼓的鼓手。
最后的礼物与天主教会直接相关。鼓手是使徒信经中的 12 点教义。 “我相信上帝，全能的父，天地的创造者。我相信耶稣基督，祂的独生子，我们的主。祂因圣灵的能力而受孕，由童贞女马利亚所生。祂在本丢彼拉多手下受苦，被钉在十字架上，死了，埋葬了。祂堕入地狱。第三天，祂复活了。祂升天，坐在父的右边。祂会再来审判活人死人。我相信圣灵、圣洁的天主教会、圣徒相通、罪得赦免、身体复活和永生。”
