Twelve Days of Christmas {Why}

Well, I'm back today with Faith's blog party/linkup, Twelve Days of Christmas!

Have you ever wondered why in the world the lyrics for The Twelve Days of Christmas are what they are?

When the twelve days were started, it was during religious persecution.

Christians weren't allowed to sing the songs they wanted.  Thus, this song was invented—sort of like a secret catechism.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus

The Reason for the season

Two Turtle Doves: Old and New Testaments

Old

Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy | Joshua | Judges | Ruth | 1 Samuel | 2 Samuel  1 Kings | 2 Kings | 1 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles | Ezra | Nehemiah | Esther | Job | Psalms | Proverbs Ecclesiastes | Song of Solomon | Isaiah | Jeremiah | Lamentations | Ezekiel | Daniel | Hosea | Joel 

Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Micah | Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah | Haggai | Zechariah | Malachi

New

Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | Acts | Romans | 1 Corinthians | 2 Corinthians | Galatians | Ephesians

Philippians | Colossians | 1 Thessalonians | 2 Thessalonians | 1 Timothy | 2 Timothy | Titus 

Philemon | Hebrews | James | 1 Peter | 2 Peter | 1 John | 2 John | 3 John | Jude | Revelation

Three French Hens: Faith, hope, and love

1 Corinthians 13: 13 "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Four Calling Birds: The four Gospels

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Five Golden Rings: The Pentateuch—the first five books of the Old Testament

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Six Geese A-Laying: The six days of creation

Day one: darkness and light

Day two: sky and waters

Day three: land, fruit, trees

Day four: sun, moon, stars

Day five: birds and water creatures

Day six: land animals and man

Seven Swans A-Swimming: Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord

or

Prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, compassion

Eight Maids A-Milking: The eight Beatitudes.

-Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

-Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

-Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

-Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled

-Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

-Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

-Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

-Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Nine Ladies Dancing: The nine fruits of the Spirit

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control

Ten Lords A-Leaping: The Ten Commandments

-No other gods above the one true God

-No graven image

-Don't take His name in vain

-Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy

-Honor your father and mother

-Don't murder

-Don't commit adultery

-Don't steal

-Don't lie

-Don't covet

Eleven Pipers Piping: The eleven faithful apostles

-Simon Peter

-Andrew

-James 

-John

-Philip

-Bartholemew

-Matthew

-Thomas

-James bar Alphaeus

-Simon the Zealot

-Judas bar James

Twelve Drummers Drumming: The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed

-I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

-And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.

-Who 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. The third day he arose again from the dead.

-He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

-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 in life everlasting.

So, I hope that I didn't bore you too bad.  XD

Here's something upbeat to get you bouncing:

~Kaitlyn