I wish you the same. Thanx, Paul -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cara_Links Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:26 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [IRL-WICKLOW] HOLLY AND THE IVY Dear Listers, and my extended family, I am taking this moment in time, to wish each and all of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope your holiday season is filled with joy and warm thoughts Stay safe and enjoy the break. Cheers from here Cara Holly and Ivy Folklore Since pre- Christmas times in Ireland, the Ivy has been considered a sacred plant, and in parts of Ireland ivy was once used to treat corns, runny noses and rashes! Ivy growing on the house will protect the family from evil. Holly hung in the house protects it from misfortune. Some say the holly wood was used in the construction of the cross and holly berries are so coloured in remembrance of Christ's Blood. Holly, when the festive season is over must never be burnt while he leaves are green. What do the "Twelve Days of Christmas Mean"? I have been told that the Twelve days of Christmas do not relate to the twelve days during which the magi searched for the infant ...Various sources suggest they form a coded checklist of the Doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church- coded to avoid the arousing of suspicion of Oliver Cromwell and his followers - and that the verses can be interpreted as follows A Partridge In A Pear Tree- Represents One True God Two Turtledoves Are The Old And The New Testaments Three French Hens Are Faith Hope And Charity Four Calling Birds Stand For Four Gospels Five Golden Rings Are The Pentateuch ( The First Five Books Of The Bible) Six Geese A-Laying Are The Six Days Of Creation Seven Swans A-Swimming Represent The Seven Gifts Of The Holy Spirit Eight Maids A-Milking Are The Eight Beatitudes Nine Ladies Dancing Are The Nine Fruits Of The Spirit Ten Lords-A-Leaping Are The Commandments Eleven Pipers Piping Are The Eleven Faithful Apostles And Twelve Drummers Drumming Represent The Articles Of The Apostles Creed Taken from Cara's Diary 2006 Ireland *************************************** 1- Only leave in the body of the mail what is relevant to your answer 2- Change the SUBJECT LINE to suit the body of your own Mail to List. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message