Holy Week is a Christian holiday that takes place on the last week of lent, and one week before Easter.
The holiday starts off with Palm Sunday (April 13), and includes Holy Thursday (April 17), Good Friday (April 18), and Holy Saturday (April 19).
Easter Sunday is on April 20, 2014.
The Christian celebration of lent takes place 40 days before Easter, not including Sundays, and this year began on March 5, 2014 and will end on Thursday, April 17, 2014.
Specific rituals and traditions, as well as set dates for observing lent, vary across denominations, as the Eastern Orthodox churches begins on a Monday and does not celebrate Ash Wednesday.
Just like during lent, during Holy Week, Christians typically abstain from meat and dairy, alcohol, and follow a stricter moral code.
Yesterday, April 13, is the Palm Sunday. A Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels.
In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem.
Here's the Gospel for today Holy Monday:
"Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table. Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was filled with the scent of the ointment.
Then Judas Iscariot -- one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him-said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?'
He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contents.
So Jesus said, 'Leave her alone; let her keep it for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.'
Meanwhile a large number of Jews heard that he was there and came not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, since it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus."
The Feast of Black Nazarene, annual event every January 9th. It commemorates the 'Traslación' or Passage of life-sized, dark wooden statue of Jesus Christ through procession or transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo Church, Manila.
Highlight of the celebration is the grand procession of sea of devotees from Quirino Grandstand at seven in the morning.
(Photo: Jim Guiao Punzalan)
The organizers said that an estimate of 12 million people are expected to join the activities for the Feast of Black Nazarene.
MMDA releases Feast of Black Nazarene 2014 procession route, traffic rerouting scheme. Since the procession will not pass through the usual route, McArthur Bridge, which the Department of Public Works and Highways said is only fit to handle 20 tons or 10,000 people at any given time, the procession is expected to last 10 to 12 hours.
Here's a map detailing the parade route of the annual procession for the Feast of Black Nazarene 2014:
Route from Quirino Grandstand (Luneta), right Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos, left Taft Ave.(P.Burgos) thru McArthur Bridge, right Palanca, thru under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Blvd., right Fraternal, right Vergara, left Duque de Alba, left Castillejos, left farnecio, right Arlegui, left Nepomuceno, left Aguila, right Carcer, right Hidalgo thru Plaza Del Carmen, left Bilibid Viejo thru Puyat, left Guzman, right Hidalgo, left Barbosa, right Globo de Oro thru under Quezon Bridge, right Palanca, right Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.
Here are the Traffic Re-routing scheme for Feast of Black Nazarene 2014:
1. All vehicles coming from northern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of Bonifacio Drive (for Port Area offices) or right to A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, go straight to Lagusnilad to Taft Ave.
2. All vehicles coming from Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right at A. Villegas (Arroceros), right at Quezon Bridge to point of destination.
3. All vehicles coming from southern part of Manila intending to utilize the northbound of Roxas Blvd. from T. M. Kalaw to P. Burgos shall turn right to T.M. Kalaw to point of destination.
4. All vehicles coming from Quezon City using the stretch of Espana shall turn right P. Campa, left Andalucia, right Fuguso, left T. Mapua to point of destination.
5. All PUJ’s/light vehicles coming from Espana intending to proceed to South Pier Zone take the usual route using Quezon Bridge.
6. All vehicles coming from Divisoria intending to utilize the stretch of C. Recto Avenue shall turn left to T. Alonzo, right at Furguso, right at Andalucia to point of destination.
7. All vehicles coming from Legarda shall turn right Recto or left Mendiola to point of destination.
8. All heavy vehicles/cargo trucks coming from the south shall take Pres. Osmena, right Pres. Quirino to Nagtahan via A.H. Lacson to Capulong (vice-versa).
Some notes from MMDA:
1. All motorist intending to proceed to North of Manila or South of Manila shall advise to utilized the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan (vice-versa) or to utilized the stretch of Road 10 to Roxas Blvd. (vice-versa) to point of destination.
2. All buses coming from southern part of Manila (Laguna and Cavite) utilizing Taft Ave. are not allowed to enter from 7:00 AM to 12:00 NN and allowed only up to Pres. Quirino as their turning point. #mmda
THE Manila City Council has declared January 9, the Feast of the Black Nazarene, a special non-working holiday in the city.
A resolution passed on first reading by the council said the feast would highlight the “religious significance and cultural importance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene” and that there is truly a need to “preserve, enshrine, and promote its observance, commemoration, and celebration in the City of Manila.”
Councilor DJ Bagatsing who authored the ordinance, said that it is essentially sound for Manila to propose a local holiday on the Feast of Black Nazarene.
“This would give loyal worshippers a better chance of engaging in this sacred tradition,” Councilor DJ Bagatsing added.
The city had earlier announced the suspension of classes on Thursday to spare students from being stranded because of the expected deluge of devotees.
Barefoot devotees will again be allowed in trains, according to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA). LRT rides will not be free and security inspections will continue. He said the number of LRT commuters doubles during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The traditional “pahalik” of the Black Nazarene had already started after the venerated image was transferred to Quirino Grandstand Monday evening.
Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on,
with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
Let’s celebrate Christmas in our hearts, we have the gift of
faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of His love and try to keep it all the
years.
Thanks God for giving me another lease of life. Thank you everyone for enriching my life this year again.
May God grant you the 9 Fruits of Holy Spirit. “The fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
Wishing you all a year of peace, happiness, prosperity, good
health, joy and love!
Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength.
Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Jesus Christ. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world.
Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in many different languages!
Spanish: ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo!
Vietnamese: Chúc Giáng Sinh Vui Vẻ và Chúc Năm Mới Tốt Lành
Korean: 메리 크리스마스 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (meli k'lisŭmasŭ saehae pog manhi patŭseyo)
Indonesian: Selamat hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Italian: Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo
Japanese: クリスマスと新年おめでとうございます (kurisumasu to shinnen omedetō gozaimasu)
Chinese (Cantonese): 聖誕節同新年快樂 (singdaanjit tùnhg sànnìhn faailohk) /
Seng Dan Fai Lok, Sang Nian Fai Lok
Chinese (Mandarin): 聖誕節和新年快樂 [圣诞节和新年快乐] (shèngdànjié hé xīnnián kuàilè) / Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Chinese (Shanghainese): 圣诞节快乐 (sendaijiq kualoq) / 新年快乐 (sinni kualoq)
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gutes Neues Jahr
Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Ετος (Kala Khristougēnna kai Ēutukhismēno to Neo Ētos)
Romanian: Crăciun fericit şi un an nou fericit
Russian: С Рождеством Христовым и С наступающим Новым Годом (S Roždestvom Khristovym i S nastupayuščim Novym Godom)
Polish: Wesołych Świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Natal e próspero ano novo / Boas Festas e um Feliz Ano Novo
Some from the Philippines :
Pangasinan: Maabig ya Pasko / Maaligwas ya Balon Taon ed sikayon amin!
Pampango: Malugud Pascu at saca Masayang Bayung Banua!
Waray-Waray: Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-ong Tuig ha iyo ngatanan
Ilokano: Naragsak a Paskua / Narang-ay a Baro a Tawen kadakayo amin!
Gawad Kalinga Quezon City (GKQC), in cooperation with The Expressions Company, brings Carenival, a day for the children of GKQC villages.
This will be on December 15, 2013 (Sunday) at the Ateneo de Manila University MVP – Roof Deck from 10 am to 5pm. Fun booths and a variety show will be setup to entertain more than 200 kids. Here are ways on how you can take part in this celebration of caring and sharing: Be a volunteer ate and kuya for a day!
Gawad Kalinga is about inspiring and engaging its workers, partners and volunteers to care for more than just themselves and share the best of their talents, skills, time and resources to help the poor in reaching their fullest potential. I was with CFC Kids For Christ when I was in the north area of Quezon City. Advocates in CFC KFC's passion as bringing kids to the Lord and building a bright new world.
Join this Carenival event and share this delight to other children.
Everyone is welcome to meet and mingle with the kids. Bring your family and friends too! Donate in kind or in cash. Feeling like you need to outgrow your fascination over you precious Care Bear set, Voltes V action figures, or Barbie doll collection already? Donate them and bring joy to the beneficiaries’ faces. Excess toy donations will also be sent to the kids in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Bring your toy donations on the event itself or leave them at UP Circle of Administrator’s designated drop-off points at UP Diliman NCPAG Lobby or UP Circa Tambayan, until December 13. Cash donations are also welcome and will be used to provide more materials for the children.
Youn can be a volunteer performer. Are you a puppeteer, magician, balloon twister or any kind of kiddie party performer? Share your talent to the kids and be their heroes!
For more information, about the event and future bayanihan opportunities, visit and like GKQC on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/teamGKQC) and
Twitter (@TeamGKQC)
Tony Meoto, as I call him Brother Tony, the head of Gawad Kalinga, inspires many of us where I started in the community of Couples for Christ (CFC). He became an active member of CFC and quickly rose in leadership, becoming instrumental in the setting up of the CFC Family Ministries in 1993. This expanded the reach of the mission beyond couples, to include children, youth and young professionals.
Gawad Kalinga (GK) is an organization geared towards building a nation empowered by people with faith and patriotism; a nation made up of caring and sharing communities, dedicated to eradicating poverty and restoring human dignity.
Gawad Kalinga sparks hope in the dream for a poverty free world – one family, one community and one country. GK777, the vision of building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years was launched year 2003 with the Couples for Christ community members, and all sectors of society to engage with GK.
Gawad Kalinga espouses volunteerism and relies on able and willing nation- builders in carrying out its mandate. In line with the mission of ending poverty for 5 million families by 2024, GK Youth Quezon City (the youth development arm of GK QC) takes care of 87 communities in the city. The team contributes to community development and youth empowerment through organizing monthly builds, holding of workshops for developing the youth, and undertaking various community-building events.
The long wait is finally over the day we"ve all been waiting for has come. Get ready to relive the greatest adventure of all time.
Superbook airs pilot episode on GMA this June. Do the names Gizmo, Chris and Joy ring a bell? Were you an avid fan of the Superbook TV series or a member of the Superkids Club? Or is it your first time to hear about Superbook? Whether you’re a first timer or a long-time fan, we've got great news for you!
The phenomenal 1980’s animation we love is back! Get ready as Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) brings you an all-new Superbook. Once more, viewers will experience a one of kind journey with triple the excitement.
The Superbook creations aims to contribute content to children's television / online / communication landscape. As children and their parents watch Superbook episodes together, interaction and discussion will be encouraged.
Superbook episodes will higlight values and emphasize the importance of being God-fearing, morally upright, and excellent citizens.
On June 1, 2013, the new Superbook’s pilot episode “In the Beginning” will air at 7:30 a.m. on GMA 7. In addition, Superbook Classic episodes will air every Sunday, starting June 2 at 7:30 a.m. also on GMA.
What started as an animated Bible series for children in Japan is now a world-class animation production. Since its first airing in Japan, the Superbook series has now been broadcasted in over 106 countries, translated into 43 languages and has been viewed by over a half billion people.
And to keep up with today’s new storytelling technology, the original series has been improved to match this media-savvy generation. To address this challenge, CBN, together with top Hollywood producers, animators, and directors, put their minds together and as a result: a relived, reinvented, and reimagined Superbook.
“Our goal is not only to produce a child-friendly program, but more importantly, a child-focused show for this generation to digest. Superbook aims to capture the hearts of the children of today. In addition, even the parents will enjoy and learn from it. It’s a perfect bonding activity for families,” says Icko Gonzalez, Superbook Project Head in the Philippines.
As Gonzalez puts it, “The new Superbook is for the NOW generation.”
So are you ready to experience the greatest adventure ever written and told? Mark your calendars, save the date and spread the news.
Beginning June 1, watch Superbook on Saturdays and Sundays on GMA, 7:30 a.m. Support Superbook and be part of the NOW GENERATION.
Enjoy the wonderful world of Superbook !
More photos @ Facebook. Some photos from Superbook/CBN Asia.
Happy I've watched the advance screening of "Juan dela Cruz" last night held at SM Megamall Cinema 10.
The story of Juan dela Cruz is based on Philippine mythology and the constant fight between good and evil. This teleseries to impart values anchored on faith in God.
Coco Martin as Juan dela Cruz, a half-tagapagbantay and half-aswang. "Juan", whose mother died at childbirth, left him with a cross that changes to different kinds of weapons to battle evil. He is raised by a priest and taught to always do good, but when the cross is stolen, his search leads him to his father, who turns out to be an aswang.
Equipped with a holy cross that can shift into different weapons -- a whip, a spear an arrow, and a sword -- Juan dela Cruz will battle the forces of evil.
Juan dela Cruz, a fantasy-romance-comedy-action-horror, directed by Malu Sevilla and Avel Sunpongco. This Kapamilya series features an all-star cast including Erich Gonzales, Albert Martinez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Mylene Dizon, Joel Torre, Gina Pareno, Louise Abuel, Lotlot de Leon, Neil Coleta, Arron Villaflor, Jaime Fabregas, John Medina, William Lorenzo MC, and Izzy Canillo.
It is under the production of Dreamscape Entertainment TV managed by Endrinal and Julieanne Benitez.
Juan dela Cruz, begins airing tomorrow February 4 right after TV Patrol @ABS-CBN.
A huge crowd tries to touch the statue of The Black
Nazarene, a life-sized statue of Christ is carried through town by barefooted
men yelling, "Viva Señor! "
(Photo: Jim Guiao Punzalan)
On January 9, 2013 - celebration of Feast of Black Nazarene
in Quiapo, Manila. Some 11 million devotees are expected to join the parade set
on Wednesday.
(Photo: MGR)
The religious veneration of the Black Nazarene is rooted
among Filipinos who identify themselves with the Passion of Jesus Christ. Many
devotees of the Black Nazarene relate their poverty and daily struggles to the
wounds and tribulations experienced by Jesus, as represented by the image.
Every Friday of the year is locally known as Quiapo Day, and
is dedicated to the Black Nazarene, with the novena being held not only in the
basilica but in other churches nationwide. Devotees also pay homage by clapping
their hands at the end of each mass offered at the shrine.
If you decide to take part in the event, be prepared. Most
in the crowd go barefoot as a sign of humility as they follow the statue. A few
dozen people a year pass out and must be taken away by ambulance. And there is
at least a small risk of being trampled.
Take care everyone and God bless! Happy Feast Day and "Viva Señor!"
Today is Palm Sunday, the final Sunday before Easter Sunday, marks the beginning of the Holy Week. Christian churches distribute palms on Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed in His path, before His arrest and Crucifixion on Good Friday. Great crowds of people thronged the streets waving palm branches to welcome Him. The people shouted "Hosanna" and laid their cloaks and palm branches from the nearby trees in His path.
Procession with Palms
Gospel: Mk 11:1-10
When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat.
Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you,
'Why are you doing this?' reply,
'The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.'"
So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate
outside on the street, and they untied it.
Some of the bystanders said to them,
"What are you doing, untying the colt?"
They answered them just as Jesus had told them to,
and they permitted them to do it.
So they brought the colt to Jesus
and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road,
and others spread leafy branches
that they had cut from the fields.
Those preceding him as well as those following kept
crying out:
"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 22 February 2012 and ends on 7 April 2012, which is the day before Easter.
Holy Week was a tradition that was integrated into the Filipino society during the Spanish regime. Since then, Filipinos have been commemorating this day as an important religious holiday.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is from Palm Sunday to Black Saturday, then Easter Sunday. It is traditionally a solemn occasion in the Philippines, a time for serious atonement. Holy Week is when many people perform holy rites in fulfillment of a vow they made when they asked God a favor, such as a cure for an illness. Priests and religious statues are dressed in purple to symbolize gloom. Devout Catholics go to church everyday, some fast.
An important Maundy Thursday symbol is the concept of the Holy Eucharist, which is evident in the re-enactment of the Last Supper scene that depicts the last day before Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. Maundy Thursday marks the event before Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. Aside from fasting, most Filipinos refrain from activities such as drinking alcohol, eating meat and intercourse with their partners. Maundy Thursday is highlighted by the re-enactment of the Last Supper, which is organized by churches. It is customary for Filipinos to visit seven churches on this particular day. This is called Visita Iglesia which is a Spanish word for “to visit churches”. Some people visit 14 churches to symbolize the 14 stations of the cross.
Good Friday is symbolized by the cross, as it commemorates the belief that Jesus Christ suffered and sacrificed his own life to save humanity. Good Friday is a part of the religious holiday week in the lead up to Easter Sunday. This is the time when many Filipinos refrain from engaging in worldly activities such as listening to loud music or drinking alcohol. Most Catholics refrain from eating meat during this day and engage in fasting and prayer.
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are regular non-working holidays. Vacation seasons are always prime time to many people. There are large crowds of people in bus terminals. Aside from going home to their provincial , regional destinations, holiday destinations such as beaches and hotels are also busy with many tourists and travelers.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has set up a microsite emphasizing safe travel during the observance of the Lenten season next week.
DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas said motorists and the general public looking for updates on land, air and sea travel and other related topics just log on to www.oplanligtas.org.
The Black Nazarene/ Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno/ Itim na Nazareno
The Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 2012 will have the procession scheduled to start at 8 a.m. after the Mass but, because of the multitudes of those who attend, it is expected to last for 10 to 12 hours.
A grand Fiesta, this festival centers on the image of the Black Nazarene which was transported by galleon from Mexico to Manila in the 17th century. The festival is marked by an afternoon procession by thousands of devotees.
Around eight million devotees flock in Quiapo every year and wear the color maroon and go barefoot in imitation of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary.
Last Saturday Malacanang asked devotees of the Black Nazarene to take necessary precautions and refrain from bringing along their children and valuables to ensure an orderly and peaceful celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene Monday, Jan. 9.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte echoed the appeals made by officials of Manila, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to the public against bringing children and their valuables.
"To our elderly devotees, let us also take the necessary precautions," she said.
Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim said the Nazarene procession’s route has been cleared of obstructions, potholes, hanging wires and even broken bottles and the like to ensure the safety of the devotees who will be joining the procession barefooted.
Meanwhile, instead of the usual “namamasan,” priests will be the ones to transfer the 40-year-old image of the Black Nazarene from the altar to its “andas” (carriage) Monday.
Monsignor Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said he will ask the priests to transfer the life-size image of Jesus Christ to prevent chaos during the feast day mass in Luneta.
“The priests will be the ones to carry. This is a first for them,” he said.
“We are requesting the ‘mamamasan’ to wait for the Mass to finish. Don’t rush because the priests are not used to shoving,” Ignacio said in Pilipino.
In the past, the Mass was temporarily interrupted when devotees started climbing the stage to get near the Nazareno image for the procession.
Ignacio said they are hoping that the presence of the priests will help pacify the devotees.
The Quiapo rector appealed anew to the faithful to respect the occasion and Mass. He said devotees need not climb the stage during the Mass as they’ll be given several opportunities to approach the Nazareno such as the “pahalik” (the faithful’ kissing of the feet and hands of the Nazarene image) which will start at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila.
Around eight million devotees are expected to join the annual “traslacion” procession of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo Church Monday afternoon.
Traditionally, men are the only ones permitted to hold the ropes pulling the image's carriage, but in recent years female devotees also participated in the procession. People who have touched the Black Nazarene said they have been cured of their diseases, and Catholics come from all over Manila to touch the image in the hopes of a miracle. Towels and handkerchiefs are wipe on the statue in their hope of a miracle they attributed to the "rubbing off". To some devotees it is their annual rites to beg for forgiveness and renewal of their subscription to God’s grace.
The Twelve Days of Christmas is an English Christmas carol which a series of increasingly grandiose gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Although it was first published in England in 1780, textual evidence may indicate the song is French in origin.
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
The Song
This period is referred to in the song Twelve Days of Christmas. Twelve Days of Christmas is a traditional Christmas song, or Christmas Carol. The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days from December 25 to January 6 or the Twelfth Night. The date of the song's first performance is not known, though it was used in European and Scandinavia traditions as early as the 16th century.
The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…" The "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church.
1st Day --- The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross.
2nd Day --- The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd Day --- The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love.
4th Day --- The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
5th Day ---The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
6th Day ---The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.
7th Day ---The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
8th Day ---The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
9th Day --- The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10th Day ---The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments.
11th Day ---The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th Day --- The 'twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles' Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.
