I wanted to share some neat Christmas things that I feel most people even know. My mom and I found them in a church cookbook and used them at the old folks home my Dad does church service for. We had to put together talks last minuet. I hope you enjoy these

The Candy Cane                                                                TheTwelve Days of Christmas          
During the latter part of the 18th                                              A week before Christmas a bulletin from a             Century in England, all religious symbols were                           St. Louis Church gave this explanation of    
banned from public display.  No longer Christian                      how creatively the Christian religion has had
brothers and sisters recognize one another in public                  to teach and spread the gospel in times of
by the crosses they wore on their clothing, or as jewelry.           persecution.  From 1558 until 1829, Roman
                                                                                                Catholics in England were not allowed to
During this time, it was told, there was a dedicated                     practice faith openly. Someone during that
Christian candy maker who set out to find some way                era wrote this carol as a catechism song for
for members of the Christian family to indentify each                 young Catholics.  It has two levels of
other, in spite of the ban.  He began with a piece of                  meaning : the surface meaning plus a hidden
pure white candy to signify purity and holiness of Jesus            meaning known only to the members of their
Christ. Next, he fashioned the candy into the shape of a          church. Each element in the carol has a code
sheperd's staff, as a reminder that our Heavenly Father           word for religious reality which the children
is the Good Shepard.  Then he placed three small red              could remember.
stripes ' round the candy to represent the encompassing
power and presence of the Trinity, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.  Finally, he placed a single, bold
red stripe through the candy to demonstrate the redeeming
power of the blood that Christ shed upon the cross for each
of us, and the forgiveness of our sins.

• The partridge in a pear tree- Jesus Christ
• The two turtle doves- were the old and new Testament
• Three french hens- stood for faith, hope and love
• The four calling birds- were the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• The five golden rings- recalled the law, the first five books of the old testament
• The 6 geese a laying- stood for 6 days of creation
• Seven Swans a swimming- represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit
• The eight Maids a milking- were the eight beatitudes Christ shares
• The nine Ladies dancing-  these were the fruits of the Holy Spirit ( Galatians 5)
• The 10 Lords a leaping- were the 10 commandments
• Eleven Pipers piping- stood for the 11 faith disciples of Christ
• finally, the 12 Drummers- symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles creed.