Warm holiday wishes for all of you at the Loy web site. Let me offer you some interesting thoughts to ponder during this joyous yuletide season as you contemplate why our ancestors and their descendants are so important--- Did you know that most people think the Twelve Days of Christmas are those twelve days preceding this blessed event? Actually, Christmas is a season that begins December 25 and lasts twelve days until January 6---the Day of Epiphany---the day when most Christian churches celebrate the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. This day also recalls the journey of the Three Kings---the Magi, or the Three Wise Men; it's the day they found the Holy Child in Bethlehem. From 1558 until 1829, people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. During this era, someone wrote 'The Twelve Days of Christmas" as a carol that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation: the outward (enjoyed by all in a humorous, whimsical fashion) and the hidden (known to faithful members of the church). Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality: 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree---Jesus Christ 2 Turtledoves---the Old and the New Testaments 3 French Hens---Faith, Hope, Charity 4 Calling Birds---the Four Gospels of the New Testament St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John 5 Gold Rings---the Torah [the Law], the first five books of the Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy 6 Geese A-Laying---the six days of creation (Genesis 1) "And God said, Let there be light, . . . "And God made the firmament, and divided the waters . . . "And God said, . . . Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree . . . "And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. "And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, . . . "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: . . ." 7 Swans A-Swimming---the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Prophecy Tongues 8 Maids A-Milking---the eight Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:8-10) "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kindom of heaven." 9 Ladies Dancing---the nine Fruits of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23) Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance 10 Lords A-Leaping---the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, . . . "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; . . . "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. "Honour thy father and thy mother: . . . "Thou shalt not kill. "Thou shalt not commit adultery. "Thou shalt not steal. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, . . . wife, . . . nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." 11 Pipers Piping---the eleven faithful Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4) Simon, called Peter Andrew, his brother James, the son of Zebedee John, his brother Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew, the publican James, the son of Alphaeus Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus Simon, the Canaanite 12 Drummers Drumming---the twelve tenets of belief in the Apostles Creed, found in the Book of Common Prayer: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. "I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead; on the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen." This, then, is the hidden meaning of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and the secret behind the song. Enjoy singing it for the fun it brings, but keep in mind that it's true meaning is sacred. "In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy." Have a joyous yuletide season! Linda Wilson Nimori ---2nd great-granddaughter of Benjamin DeArmond and Louisa Loy ---3rd great-granddaughter of George Loy Jr. and Barsheba Massengale ---4th great-granddaughter of George Loy Sr. and Catherine Tillman ---5th great-granddaughter of Martin Loy and Catherine Foust