Seven swans a' swimming

[Ingemar]

According to some ancient Christian tradition (Orthodox, perhaps), the twelve days of Christmas actually began on Christmas day.

So Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

[Technomancer]

Yup, it lasts until the Fest of the Epiphany which will be the 5th of January. I wonder if swan tastes any good?

[Slater]

yep, and every thing in that song stands for something special...
A partridge in a pear tree stands for Jesus' birth,
Two turtle doves stand for the OT and NT,
Three French hens stands for Faith and Hope and Love,
Four calling birds stands for the first four books of the NT (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John),
Five golden rings stand for the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy),
Six geese a-laying stand for the six days God took to create the universe and all within it,
Seven swans a-swimming for the seven spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit (Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Ruling, Mercy),
Eight maids a-milking stand for the beatitudes (Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, the peace makers, and the persecuted),
Nine ladies dancing stand for the Fruit of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance),
Ten lords a-leaping stand for the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20),
Eleven pipers piping stand for the Eleven Faithful Apostles (in other words, all of Jesus apostles excluding Judas Iscariot),
and Twelve Drummers Drumming stand for the 12 Points of the Apostles Creed.

I bet that those against Christmas don't know about all that when they hum it, eh?

[Stephen]

Yeah, I read that the other day (what Slater wrote) Pretty spiffy I think.

[Arnobius]

Seven Swans is also held to mean the Seven Sacraments in some denominations that believe in that. Nice that this can be used universally though even if the individual meanings are different

[Slater]

I don't know what the Seven Sacraments are, but the song was written with the Creed in mind.

OT: who the heck is Ark?
OT2: lol nm i am smrat

[Scribs]

I am no autority in the area, but to the best of my knowlege the 7 sacraments are as follows, and I believe that they are what the song is referencing, though I may be wrong.

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

Oh, and Slater, Check the man's sig.

[Arnobius]

Yes, that is correct.

[Technomancer]

Yup, the story goes that the song was written by English Jesuits living in France during the period when Catholics were being persecuted and being a priest in England carried a sentence of death. The idea, according to the story was that the items in the song were meant to represent some of the important elements of the Catholic catechism.

[Puritan]

Interesting. Was the time of Catholic persecution the English Revolution, or when? The Puritans (Who took England during the revolution) were known to be very unaccepting of Catholicism or anything they thought looked like Catholicism.

[Technomancer]

Interesting. Was the time of Catholic persecution the English Revolution, or when? The Puritans (Who took England during the revolution) were known to be very unaccepting of Catholicism or anything they thought looked like Catholicism.

The worst periods in England were the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and James I, although the Catholic Emancipation Act itself was not passed until the early 19th century. Interestingly, despite Oliver Cromwell's dislike of Catholicism he actually allowed Catholics and other non-state approved groups freedom of worship, although this protection only lasted the length of his reign. His policies in Ireland and Scotland were considerably less enlightened however. Likewise, even when policies in England towards Catholicism eased somewhat they were still vigorously pursued in Scotland even under the reign of the more Catholic-friendly Charles I.

Further information may be found here.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11611c.htm

[Aka-chan]

I heard that the song symbolizing stuff was actually a myth. I mean, it works, but it wasn't written like that. I think. I have to find that reference link again.

[Ingemar]

Well, today is the twelfth day of Christmas... I hope somebody got the twelve drummers.