My husband and I were just wondering what this song actually meant. I'm so thankful to have read the following information. I have not done any research to see if this is "accurate", but it does make sense. I hope you enjoy!
Luke 19:40 ~ "I tell you," He [Jesus] replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Has this cute, fun little CHRISTmas ditty ever puzzled you? What in the world do these Old World objects have to do with CHRISTmas?
I have your answer...
From 1558 until 1829, truly committed Christians & Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. In the early days of this time period, the Catholic church even chained the Bible to the pulpit & forbade parishioners to own &/or read their own Bible. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a secret way to publicly celebrate the tenants of the Christian faith in a culture dominated by a tyrannical secular government.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to the committed faithful. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which even their children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
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