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Joined: Nov 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
Received this today.
12 Days of Christmas
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
From 1558 until 1829, Christian 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 Christian 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 that 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 points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
Now, you know how that strange song became a Christmas carol!!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Check snopes.Not so!...I've never been accused of snoping!  
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5 |
I think you can make songs say anything you want them to, particularly when it comes to religion. I remember reading several years back that "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel was a satanic song because of the line:
"Jesus loves you more than you will know, woe, woe, woe."
Now, you're right, you and I know the line is "whoa, whoa, whoa" -- but it just goes to show you how these kinds of things can become Snopes-worthy rumors.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1 |
"Jesus loves you more than you will know, woe, woe, woe."
Now, you're right, you and I know the line is "whoa, whoa, whoa"
Interesting. I always thought it wasn't another word at all,
just a repetition of the final syllable for rhythm-maintaining purposes.
"know, -ow,-ow,-ow", pronounced "oh, oh, oh."
More fool me. Live and learn.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1 |
Speaking of Christmas, anybody want to resurrect Christmas on the Bayou?
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5 |
<< Interesting. I always thought it wasn't another word at all, just a repetition of the final syllable for rhythm-maintaining purposes.
"know, -ow,-ow,-ow", pronounced "oh, oh, oh." >>
Very possible. I presumed it was "whoa," since in the next line they sing "Heaven holds a place for those who pray, hey, hey, hey."
I guess since it's "hey" I thought "whoa" was the other. You're right, though, whichever it is, it's meant just to be a rhyming extension and nothing more.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742 |
>Check snopes.
Damn your eyes ramasseur, I'm off in the arms of Morpheus and you go thieving my bubble-bursting fun. I love pointing people to snopes - I'm thinking of having those two words for my epitaph. doff hat to SLC
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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I'm surprised I beat my lovely ASp to the punch.
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