Six Geese a Laying {12 Days of Christmas Tour}

I’m not really sure what I was thinking when I signed up for the 12 days of Christmas tour.  It’ll be fun I thought.  “Six geese a laying” no biggie, I can come up with something for that.  I got this, right?  But after racking my brain, scouring the internet for ideas, trying some origami geese that were an instant fail I came up with a big fat nothing.

So I decided to make a very simple card using the beautiful photo I found on this site.  And if I start feeling really ambitious maybe I’ll make more than one…..but don’t hold your breath.  This week has presented more than a few life challenges and it’s only Wednesday!  However God is good and always shows up big time and I am grateful.

Six Geese a Laying

Making the card was super simple.  I printed off the picture that I found online.

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And then cut some card stock…..

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and glued the photo on the card stock.

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And BAM…..six geese a laying happened right before my eyes!  🙂

But then I asked myself, what is the meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas song anyway?  I am embarrassed to say that in my thirty something years of life I never really bothered to ask. I just thought it was a bunch of silliness honestly.  So I did a little research and came up with these fun facts…..

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written in England as one of the “catechism songs” to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith – a memory aid.
The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The “true love” mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so…”

The other symbols mean the following:

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

(info via Snopes.com)

Super interesting if you ask me and as a Christian I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know any of this before now.  Please be sure and follow along this week with a bunch of my blogging peeps to see what they made for the tour.  There are some fantastic posts and ideas that I know you’ll love!  Here’s a list (that I’ll try to keep updated for you) to see what everyone’s doing.

MONDAY December 1st

{Partridge in a Pear Tree}

Simply Fresh Vintage Petticoat Junktion Snazzy Little Things

{Two Turtle Doves}

Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer Fresh Idea Studio

TUESDAY December 2nd

Country Design Style DIO Home Improvements mommy is coocoo

{Four Calling Birds}

Artsy Chicks Rule Virginia Sweet Pea

WEDNESDAY DEC 3rd

{Five Golden Rings}

House on the Way DIY 180 Restoration Redoux

{Six Geese-a-Laying}

Postcards from the Ridge Farm Fresh Vintage Finds

THURSDAY December 4th

{Seven Swans a Swimming}

Curb Alert! Cupcakes and Crinoline

{Eight Maids a Milking}

Our Southern Home

FRIDAY December 5th

{Nine Ladies Dancing}

Better After Rhapsody in Rooms

{Ten Lords a Leaping}

The Endearing Home

SATURDAY December 6th

{Eleven Pipers Piping}

Refresh Restyle Lilacs and Longhorns Imparting Grace

{Twelve Drummers Drumming}

What Meegan Makes Mrs. Hines Class

 

blog sign

How to Make a Christmas Banner
Easy DIY Noel Sign

37 Comments

  1. I also didn’t know that The Twelve Days of Christmas has religious meaning until my mom and I looked it up to get ideas for my day, four calling birds.

    I like you card and I especially like that it was easy to make. I never seem to have a card when I need one and need to start making what I need!

    1. I’m trying to do better with what I have, Paula….I have a small arsenal of scrapbooking supplies that I could use to make cards for days. It’s just finding the time to sit down and do it. 🙂

  2. Beth,

    I love the picture and the history is awesome. Never really looked up the meaning behind the 12 days of Christmas. Thanks for sharing that info.

    1. You’re welcome Vanessa…I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one that didn’t know. 🙂

  3. I seriously had no idea about the history of the song, thank you so much for sharing. Your card turned out adorable too!

    1. Thanks Tami! I’m feeling better with each comment. So glad I wasn’t the only one. 🙂

  4. I’m 51, and I also didn’t know the meaning of the song until recently! I just love the story behind it, don’t you?

    I love your six geese; what a great idea! 🙂

    1. Thanks Richella. Yes, the song actually has meaning for me now and I really enjoyed sharing it with my teenagers. There’s always so much history behind older music if you search for it. Have a great day! 🙂

      ~Beth

  5. Beautiful card and perfect image! Thanks for the history of the 12 days of Christmas. I’m much older and never thought about it. Cool! Jeanette

    1. Ha! Thanks Jeanette 🙂

  6. I love the postcard. Great idea.

    And thanks for sharing the history of the song. I had no idea.

  7. You found the perfect card! Thanks so much for sharing the meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas !

  8. I had no idea that the song had deeper meaning (how terrible!). Thank you so much for sharing that! And your card is perfect! So beautiful!

  9. Beth I never knew the meaning behind the song either :O thank you so much for sharing this, that card was the perfect card for this tour, such a fun project!

  10. I am just confused with the dates that you listed. The Twelve Days of Christmas DO NOT begin on December 1, they begin on December 25, Christmas. For that is when “My True Love, gave me the ‘Partridge in the Pear Tree.” The Twelve days of Christmas are from Christmas to the Epiphany, January 6. Merry Christmas to all! On this Sixth day of Christmas! 12.30.14

    1. Hi Robin,

      Yes, I know it begins on Christmas but we decided we’d move it around a bit to serve our readers best. Thanks for being here. Happy New Year!

      Blessings,
      Beth

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