The 12 Days of Christmas

[Roberto T. Cast]

Very Interesting. I think you'll enjoy this.
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Have you ever wondered about THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS?

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?

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 turtledoves 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 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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Christmas will be here before we know. I hope you all Marines out there will like this one.

This surprise me cause I never thought about this way. To me it was just a Christmas song.

What do you think?

[firstsgtmike]

I've read something, in many different contexts, including a song, about the similar significance of a deck of playing cards.

[Devildogg4ever]

I, too, looked at it as just a song! Has more meaning to it now.

[firstsgtmike]

I FOUND IT!

The Deck of Cards

During the North African Campaign, a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike. They arrived in a little town called Casino. The next morning being Sunday, several of the boys went to church. A sergeant commanded the boys in church.


After the Chaplain read the prayer, the text was taken up next. Those of the boys that had a prayer book took them out. One boy had only a deck of cards, and he spread them out. The sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those cards." After the service was over, the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshal.


The Marshal said, "Sergeant, why have you brought this man here?"

"For playing cards in church, Sir," was the response.

The Marshal asked the soldier, "And what have you to say for yourself, son?"

"Much, Sir," replied the soldier.

The Marshal stated, "I hope so, for if not I will punish you more than any man was ever punished."

The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on the march for about six months. I have neither bible nor a prayer book, but I hope to satisfy you, sir, with the purity of my intentions." And with that, the boy started his story ...


"You see, sir, when I look at the Ace, it reminds me that there is but one God.

And the deuce reminds me that the bible is divided into two parts: the Old and the New Testaments.

When I see the trey, I think of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And when I see the four, I think of the four evangelists who preached the Gospel: there was Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

And when I see the five, it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps; there were ten of them: five were wise and were saved, five were foolish and were shut out.

When I see the six, it reminds me that in six days God made this heaven and earth.

And when I see the seven, it reminds me that on the seventh day, God rested from his great work.

And when I see the eight, I think of the eight righteous persons that God saved when he destroyed the earth: there was Noah, his wife, their sons and their wives.

And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our saviour cleansed, and that nine of the ten didn't even thank him.

When I see the ten, I think of the ten commandments that God handed down to Moses on a tablet of stone.

When I see the King, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty.

And when I see the Queen, I think of the blessed Virgin Mary who is the Queen of Heaven.

And the Jack or Knave is the Devil.


When I count the number of spots in a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year.

There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year.

There are four suits, the number of weeks in a month.

There are twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year.

There are thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.


So you see, Sir, my deck of cards serves me as a bible, an almanac and a prayer book."


The author and performer of "Deck of Cards" was
T. Texas Tyler.
He stated at the conclusion:
"And friends, this story is true.
I know ... I was that soldier."

[Roberto T. Cast]

FirsSgtMike

There is a song in spanish about the soldier with the deck of card in church. Everything is exactly the same. It the same from beginning to the end.

I think I have heard the song of the deck of card in English.

Have you or anyone heard it?

:yes: :no: