Two Turtle Doves, for 12 Days of Christmas
FLORIDA TIMES-UNION | JACKSONVILLE
By Jackie Rooney
FLORIDA - The most nerve-wracking song in the Christmas carol book tells the story of gifts delivered to a young woman by her “true love” each day between Christmas and the Epiphany. In addition to the partridge, she received a couple of turtledoves and various other fowl, golden rings — now we’re talking — milkmaids (but did they do windows?), dancing ladies, leaping lords, pipers and drummers. It’s theorized the song originated during the 300-year period from 1558 to 1829 when Catholicism wasn’t allowed to be practiced openly in England. It was a catechism rhyme with two levels of meaning to covertly teach young Roman Catholics about their religion. For example, the partridge in the pear tree represented Jesus Christ; two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments, and 10 lords a-leaping symbolized the 10 commandments. The chant was published in a children’s book in London in 1780 before it became a carol. [link]
By Jackie Rooney
FLORIDA - The most nerve-wracking song in the Christmas carol book tells the story of gifts delivered to a young woman by her “true love” each day between Christmas and the Epiphany. In addition to the partridge, she received a couple of turtledoves and various other fowl, golden rings — now we’re talking — milkmaids (but did they do windows?), dancing ladies, leaping lords, pipers and drummers. It’s theorized the song originated during the 300-year period from 1558 to 1829 when Catholicism wasn’t allowed to be practiced openly in England. It was a catechism rhyme with two levels of meaning to covertly teach young Roman Catholics about their religion. For example, the partridge in the pear tree represented Jesus Christ; two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments, and 10 lords a-leaping symbolized the 10 commandments. The chant was published in a children’s book in London in 1780 before it became a carol. [link]
