tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256165281863652253.post7367867712614213626..comments2023-10-24T07:38:47.024-07:00Comments on A Shepherd's Voice: Christmas Catechism LessonA Shepherd's Voicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743324067287303823noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256165281863652253.post-18321005532825435642010-12-18T14:21:12.460-08:002010-12-18T14:21:12.460-08:00Wikipedia and Snopes both report that you are like...Wikipedia and Snopes both report that you are likely propagating a falsehood: The meaning of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," if it has any, has yet to be satisfactorily explained. According to The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, "Suggestions have been made that the gifts have significance, as representing the food or sport for each month of the year. Importance [certainly has] long been attached to the Twelve Days, when, for instance, the weather on each day was carefully observed to see what it would be in the corresponding month of the coming year. Nevertheless, whatever the ultimate origin of the chant, it seems probable [that] the lines that survive today both in England and France are merely an irreligious travesty."[2] A bit of modern folklore claims that the song's lyrics were written as a "catechism song" to help young Catholics learn their faith, at a time when practicing Catholicism was discouraged in England (1558 until 1829). There is no substantive primary evidence supporting this claim, and no evidence that the claim is historical, or "anything but a fanciful modern day speculation."[1] In fact, variations in lyrics provide evidence against the "catechism song" origin. For example, the four Gospels are often described as the "four calling birds," when in fact the phrase "calling birds" is a modern (probably 20th century) phonetic misunderstanding of "colly birds" (blackbirds)<br />Also see http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.aspAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256165281863652253.post-24097384602374533482010-12-16T09:31:27.276-08:002010-12-16T09:31:27.276-08:00I made a coloring/activity book for my Religious E...I made a coloring/activity book for my Religious Education class based on this! The only thing different was I used Blessed Trinity for 3 and Liturgical Seasons for 6.<br /><br />Makes listening to the song more tolerable now, doesn't it?!Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06163713941436667861noreply@blogger.com