----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Marsters" <marstersco@earthlink.net>
To: "Mathews, Russ" <revmathews@aol.com>; "Marsters, Lindsay"
<lindsaym@earthlink.net>; "Marsters, Linda" <lmarsters@fortbend.k12.tx.us>;
"Marsters, James" <jimmycheer@yahoo.com>; "Lewis, Deacon"
<Deacon11@aol.com>; "King, Cathy" <kingc@snbtx.com>; "Harris, Mary S."
<mharris-hudson@WCITX.COM>; "Ferguson, Mike" <mfe252@airmail.net>; "Deniese
Day" <deniesed@hotmail.com>; "Day, Pam" <pkjday@yahoo.com>; "Bass, Larry"
<lwbthemarine@bigplanet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 9:47 AM
Subject: Fw: did you know this?


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Marsters, Linda <lmarsters@fortbend.k12.tx.us>
> To: 'Frank' <marstersco@earthlink.net>; 'lindsay' <lindsaym@earthlink.net>
> Sent: Monday, December 11, 2000 3:45 PM
> Subject: FW: did you know this?
>
>
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> > > > > What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans,
> > > > > and especially the partridge who won't come  out of the pear
> > > tree have to
> > > > > do
> > > > > with Christmas?
> > > > >
> > > > > Today, someone sent me an e-mail with the explanation.
> > > > >
> > > > > From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not
> > > permitted to
> > > > > practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this
> > > carol as
> > > > a
> > > > > catechism song for young Catholics.
> > > > >
> > > > > It has two levels of meaning:  the surface meaning plus a hidden
> > > meaning
> > > > > known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol
> > > has a
> > > > > code
> > > > > word for a religious reality which the 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.
> > > > >
> > > > > So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared
> > > with me
> > > > and
> > > > > I
> > > > > found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that
> > > strange
> > > > song
> > > > > became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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