Fw: did you know this?

----- 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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