Ten Lords a-Leaping

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.  Exodus 34:27-28

The ten lords a-leaping most likely refers to Morris dancers who performed leaping dances between courses at feasts.  This type of wild and strenuous dancing probably evolved from more ancient war and fertility dances and would have been a popular form of entertainment for this type of function.  Both King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I had professional Morris dance troupes in their courts to perform as part of the entertainment at royal feasts.  Unlike the nine ladies dancing in the previous stanza, where the dancers appear to have been guests dancing for enjoyment, these were professional dancers brought in to entertain the guests while they dined.

The energetic lords of this song represent the ten commandments.  The commandments given to Moses on the holy mount form the heart of the covenant relationship between God and His chosen people.  It is an appropriate response to leap for joy before the Lord.  Elizabeth told Mary that “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44)  And King David, who often danced before the Lord, says, “My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28:7)

Our True Love gives us an everlasting covenant.  Leap for joy.

Nine Ladies Dancing

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

As noted earlier, this is going to be a great and grand feast.  Over the first eight days we have acquired most all we need in edibles, but what would a celebratory feast be without entertainment.  The nine ladies dancing evokes images of the music and dancing which were a big part of the celebrations at this period of history in England.  The nine ladies dancing would be high born ladies dancing for the entertainment of the men much as people today will often provide impromptu entertainment at parties and other social gatherings.  Again, the emphasis is on celebrating and having fun during this nearly two weeks of non-stop nightly partying.

These nine ladies represent the nine fruits of the Spirit.  Our life in the Spirit will produce fruit.  These nine ladies have come that there might be good fruit of love, joy, and peace.  When we walk by the Spirit, these same fruits will be produced.  

The prophetic promise through Jeremiah was that when the Lord gathers His flock, “Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 31:13-14)  At this Christmas festival, the Lord gathers His people, and the maidens will dance, young men and old as well.

Eight Maids a-Milking

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11

The eight maids represent the eight beatitudes from the sermon on the mount.  There is some dispute as to whether there are eight or nine beatitudes.  In Matthew 5:3-10 Jesus says that blessed are:  1) the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.  These are the traditional eight beatitudes and are affirmed in the Catholic catechism.  But then there is verse 11 quoted above.  This has traditionally not been included in the list.  It appears to be a summary of what one can expect if we try to live the blessed life described in the eight beatitudes.

We continue to see the emphasis upon the food for the Christmas feast, especially foods that are not common and are reserved for special occasions. Until the advent of refrigeration, milk was not a common drink because it spoiled quickly.  To receive the gift of fresh milk is to be granted a heavenly gift.

This is the very reason this image was chosen for the beatitudes.  We are to feed on the milk of the word.  St. Peter says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2)  We are to strive to live life in accord with the beatitudes–a blessed life.  In order to do that we must “crave the pure spiritual milk.”

Seven Swans a-Swimming

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1-2

The seven swans represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit.  There are a couple of different lists of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, depending on whether you are looking at these from the Protestant or Catholic perspective.  The common Protestant list encompasses: 

prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership, and mercy.  But the Catholic Church draws the list from Isaiah and includes: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.  Since this song was originally created as a Catholic catechetical tool, the latter list would be the appropriate one.

Throughout history swans have been associated with royalty and the swan is often used on royal symbols and other decorations. Swans are also found in myths and folk tales dealing with love.  In addition, swan meat is supposed to be quite tasty and from ancient times to the nineteenth century, roast swan was on the menu for the king’s Christmas dinners and other royal banquets.  With its close connection to royalty and royal holiday feasting, the choice of seven swans as a gift for Christmas is most appropriate.

The beauty and majesty of the swan is a wonderful representation of the Holy Spirit gifts.  They are gifts fit for the King.  These swans may have been food for the feast, or been given to add festive beauty, swimming in the pond outside the chateau.

Six Geese a-Laying

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Genesis 1:31-2:2

The six geese a-laying represent the six days of creation.  It is significant that these geese are busy laying eggs.  They are mother hens.  They are about the business of creating new life and nurturing and sustaining that life.  That is the message of creation and the role of the creator.  He is not simply the “prime mover” who sets the world in motion, but the merciful and loving sustainer of all that He has made.

True Love has given a gift that continues to give.  He created the world, and all that is in it, for His pleasure and to have an on-going relationship with His creation.  He made us his stewards and allows us to enjoy His creation.  He wants us to take care of the creation, not consume it.

These geese are not to be consumed as part of the Christmas celebration; they are there to provide the eggs, a valuable addition to this meal, and the promise of an increased flock for the future.  Though, as noted on day three, chickens produce more eggs, the goose egg was much larger and highly prized.  And the beloved is to care for the geese themselves that they may continue to reproduce.

Five Golden Rings

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

The five rings represent the first five books of the Bible — the Torah, or Law.  If this song was functioning as a catechism of sorts for the Catholic youth of 16th century England, then it makes sense that they should know these books.  Scripture was just then becoming available to the common man, and there was a hunger for the word.  The four Gospels were essential, but the Church also recognized that an understanding of the Good News was based firmly upon the Law and Prophets.  As Jesus told the disciples after His resurrection, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” (Luke 24:44)

While the image we have is of five golden rings for one’s fingers, the five rings referred to in the original lyrics were probably five ring-necked pheasants.  Rings for one’s fingers were not viewed as an appropriate gift.  Gold was something that one acquired for oneself.  Food was a more gracious gift.  Food was not as plentiful and as easily available as it is today, so gifts of food were more common.  Ring-necked pheasants would therefore be the greater gift and far more festive for a celebration.

The image of the game bird as the gift the true love gave represents the food of God’s Word to the beloved.  Our True Love gives us the Torah, and in that gift reminds us that He created us, we fell, He judged us, and we were redeemed by His gracious goodness.

Four Calling Birds

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:14-17

The calling birds represent the four Gospels.  But there is no such thing as a calling bird.  The original song as sung in England during the Middle Ages and Tudor era had four colley birds as the gift on the fourth day of Christmas.  A colley bird is one of a number of varieties of blackbird.  But a “calling bird” actually represents the Four Gospels better than a colley bird.  The image of calling out the evangelical message resonates better with the prior than the latter.

During the medieval era starlings were among various types of wild local birds that were kept in cages as pets. Various other types of blackbirds were eaten as food along with other game birds. So the lover’s gift in this case was one of food or a pet.  But whether as pet or provender, the birds were a gift of love.

The four Gospels are “Good News”; they are a gift of love.  The four birds represent the True Love’s gift of His holy Word.  That Word was made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.  He lived as one of us, yet without sin.  He fed us with His Body and Blood.  He died that we might be forgiven.  And He rose that we might have new life.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  That is truly Good News worth calling out.

Three French Hens

“So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13

Chickens?  How do chickens relate to the faith?  And why French hens?  This is an English carol.  The fact that they referred to a French rather than an English variety of chicken may be an indication that the carol originated in France, or the words French Hens may have just had a good sound.  Nevertheless, the three hens represent the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Chickens are prolific.  Whereas a goose may lay thirty to fifty eggs in a year, a chicken will, on average, lay 325 eggs a year.  Also, one can make a wide variety of tasty dishes using chickens.  Thus, hens, whether French or English or American, reproduce in abundance and may be utilized in a wide variety of ways.  

The theological virtues, when used by the faithful, reproduce in abundance–they are contagious.  It is hard to despair when we are around someone who is full of hope.  Faith breeds faith in others.  And when we love the unlovable, change inevitably occurs.  

Utilizing these primary virtues strengthens the user and brings growth to the Body.  And these virtues exercised in the midst of unbelievers witnesses to the power of God, transforming the society that doubts and scoffs.

The theological virtues are represented well by the versatile hen.

Two Turtle Doves

Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24

The two turtle doves represent the two covenants, the Old and New Testaments.  Turtle doves can be found in both testaments, and are representative of the strong bond of love and peace between God and man.  Noah used the dove to determine if the water had receded after the flood, and the bird returned with an olive branch.  This was a sign that peace between God and man had been restored to the earth.  Abraham was told to sacrifice a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove and a pigeon.  He was commanded to split the hoofed animals, but to not kill the birds.  This sacrifice established the permanent covenant between God and His people–a  covenant of love and peace ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

Turtle doves are monogamous.  They form strong pair bonds and are thus emblems of the devoted love of Jesus for each one of us.  This is given form in the Song of Songs where the Lover says to His beloved, “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one.”  Jesus wants that type of a love relationship with us.

And somehow it seems appropriate that, after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph could not afford the price of a lamb so they offered the alternative sacrifice commanded in Leviticus, “a pair of turtle doves.”  True love is represented in two turtle doves, the Old and New Covenants, God’s love and peace.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus.  “The One and Only” was born this day.  “True Love” was incarnate on Christmas day.  Jesus is the Light of the world, and in Him is life.  He came and made His dwelling with us so that we may have light and life.

But why a partridge, and why in a pear tree?  How do these represent to us the One and Only, Jesus?  As we will see through our meditations this Christmas season, there is an emphasis on feasting and celebration.  The partridge and the pear tree are the first installment of a huge celebratory meal.  The partridge is a game bird prized for its tender meat.  The pear is a fruit that comes in a number of varieties and the “winter pear” ripens near the solstice.  These would be foundational for the festive meal that will be detailed in the remainder of the song.  Jesus is the foundation–the Rock–of our faith, and the other gifts that follow are founded on Him.

There is one other important facet of the partridge image.  A partridge represents Jesus because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators.  Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5)  He protected us by drawing away the punishment that our sins deserved.  He sacrificed His life to protect us, to save us, and to give us His life.