TWELVE DAYS BEFORE DEPLOYMENT ENDS

You've no doubt heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Have you ever wondered what all the words mean in the carol?  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. "The Twelve Days of Christmas", 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 turtles doves were the Old and New Testaments

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and 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.

Sevens 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 elven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there you are.  There is your history lesson for the day.  Now you know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.  

Now for some fun.  There are twelve days left until the Welcome Home Celebration for the 1/133rd.  Our son, Kris, will be part of that group who ambles to Cedar Falls in the early morning hours of July 17th.  I'd like some help constructing a carol, or poem or song, whatever you want to call it.  I'm going to use the Twelve Day's theme, only in reverse order.  I've put the first day down.  Offer any ideas you want for Day 11 and so on.  I'll consider them all.  It's obvious from the song's theme, there will be a new addition to our family in the coming days......a four-legged fuzz ball.

With twelve days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over and
A "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned

With eleven days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about overerages
Eleven straight days of sleeping
And a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned

With ten days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waitin
And a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

With nine days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
and a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned. 

With eight days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
and a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

With seven days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
Seven nights for star gazin
and a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

With six days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
Seven nights for star gazin
Six dudes for hangin
and a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned

With five days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
Seven nights for star gazin
Six dudes for hangin
Five ballgames for watchin
And a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

With four days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
Seven nights for star gazin
Six dudes for hangin
Five ballgames for watchin
Four days for swimmin
And a "Golden" waiting to be gleaned.

With three days left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
Seven nights for star gazin
Six dudes for hangin
Five ballgames for watchin
Four days for swimmin
Three wishes to be granted
And a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

With two days left of deployment.
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin

Seven nights for star gazin                                 
Six dudes for hangin
Five ballgames for watchin
Four days for swimmin
Three wishes to be granted
Two brothers in arms
And a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

Johnson Brothers in Arms
(Jordan and Jacob)

With one day left of deployment,
my friends and family said to me,
Twelve months about over
Eleven straight days of sleeping
Ten beverages a-waiting ha-ha
Nine steaks for eatin
Eight days meant for fishin
Seven nights for star gazin
Six dudes for hangin
Five ballgames for watchin
Four days for swimmin
Three wishes to be granted
Two brothers in arms
One great big CELEBRATION
And a "Golden" puppy waiting to be gleaned.

Good Luck Gleaning The One....Can We Take Them All?

YGG,

John