Christmas Day 7

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me … seven swans-a-swimming.

Birds … again! Don’t get me wrong, I love birds, but I’m not sure why the folks who wrote the Twelve Days of Christmas were so enamored with them. The author of Brownielocks.com may have a clue for us:

Because many waterfowl could both fly and swim, the ancients had a real fascination with them. Many believed that these animals had a connection between [the] natural and supernatural worlds. The migrations of some birds (disappearing when days grew short and coming when they grew longer) also added to their beliefs. Egypt linked swans with immortality, just like they did the geese. The Greek priests, who worship Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, are believed to be descended from swans. Old Celtic and British myths believe that lost loved ones turn into swans, with gold or silver chains on their necks to symbolize their enchantment. The transformation is believed to take place during their Samhain festival, where the gates of the other worlds open up and souls are free to pass.

King Edward of England, in 1304 took his vows of knighthood over two white swans decorated with gold nets and crowns. Since then, the swans became associated with royalty; and having swans was strictly exclusive to the monarchy. In Britain today, the swan is still considered a symbol of royalty.

In 1697 black swans were discovered in Australia. This caused a great stir in Europe, because up until then, it was believed that swans were suppose to be white. At least, they were all white in Europe!

Theologically, the seven swans represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, or the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. For those of you who may not be familiar with these, consider the following lists:

Gifts of the Holy Spirit (per Romans 12:6-8)*
- Prophecy
- Ministry
- Teaching
- Exhortation
- Giving
- Leading
- Showing Mercy

*Several gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in Scripture. Other lists are given in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians.

Sacraments of the Catholic Church
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (Communion)
- Penance & Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Marriage

Being Lutheran, I prefer the former list. I really can’t say any more than that, as I haven’t done enough study of the gifts of the Spirit to know that much about them (hmm … possible project for 2007?).

So, other than today being the seventh day of Christmas, it is also New Year’s Eve, a time for fond farewells and new beginnings. I spent the day attending church, making beef stew with creamy mashed potatoes (for lunch), baking six-dozen snickerdoodle cookies, calling my mom, and attending the annual New Year’s Eve party at the home of Koalagirl15. Somewhat busy for the “Sabbath,” I know, but it really couldn’t be helped. The party was great as always and, once again, the ladies prevailed at Battle of the Sexes, a board game that forces men to answer “girly” questions and women to test their brainpower against “guy” queries. Admittedly, the men were at a distinct disadvantage this year, as many of their questions involved French terms like cloche, peau de soie, and grande battement. Of course, the ladies did miss a question about football: What two NFL teams play on Thanksgiving Day? We answered the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, which was only half right. The correct answer was the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. Oh, well. Se la vie.

One last note: according to the Lutheran church calendar, today is the First Sunday after Christmas, a day when my denomination remembers the presentation of Christ at the temple forty days after His birth. The website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has a good summary of this event:

The story of the Presentation is told in Luke 2:22-29. Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews and observed their religious customs. An important custom was for the couple to take their first-born son to the Temple. The baby was taken to the Temple forty days after his birth and was dedicated to God. In addition, if the parents were wealthy, they were to bring a lamb and a young pigeon or a turtle dove to be offered as a sacrifice at the Temple. The custom provided that if the parents were poor, they were to offer two pigeons or two turtle doves for the sacrifice.

When Jesus was forty days old, Mary and Joseph took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem. They were not wealthy, so they took two turtle doves with them to offer as a sacrifice at the Temple. As they arrived at the Temple, Mary and Joseph were met by a very old man named Simeon. He was a holy man and was noted as a very intelligent scholar. Simeon spent much time studying about the prophets of Israel. It was during his studies that he learned of the coming of the Messiah … From that time on, Simeon spent his time praying for the Messiah to come. He spent many years in prayer. Finally, while Simeon was praying he heard the voice of God. God promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.

When Simeon saw Jesus, he took the baby in his arms and blessed the Lord and said:

“Lord, now let Your servant go in peace according to Your promise, because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory to your people Israel.”

From this passage of Scripture comes the Latin Nunc Dimittis that was sung in the Lutheran church that I attended as a child. After Communion, the entire congregation would chant:

Lord, now lettest thou they servant depart in peace:
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation:
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles:
and the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

May you depart 2006 (and enter 2007) in a safe and enjoyable way. Happy New Year!

Photo of Seven Swans-a-Swimming Christmas ornament by artist P. Buckley Moss was taken from the website of the Finn Gallery in St. Petersburg, FL.