The First Day of Christmas
Date: 25 December 2014
Original Gift: A Partridge in
a Pear Tree.
South African Gift: My true
love and I both really like Pride of India, so that’s what I got
Price: R40. Pride of India
happened to be on special, but an actual young pear tree: R300
Food: Snappy Pear Salad
Saint: Jesus Christ
Scripture: Matthew 1 (you can get a free copy of the
English Standard Version Bible on Kindle)
Activity: Church Service
On the first day of Christmas my
true love gave to me, a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Festivities everywhere, time with family, specially selected gifts and
delicious food. Unfortunately the excitement leading up to Christmas, mostly
created by the retail industry, is often met by disappointed when it abruptly
ends on empty pockets and overfull stomachs. For those who feel that something
is amiss, it’s good to remember that this holiday which does not discriminate
between sex, race, age, status, or even religion, has a little more to it, and
lasts a little longer.
In search of the true meaning of all this madness, one can have a look at
the lives of a number of saints Catholic pages dedicate this day to – St Anastasia
and St Eugenia are among them. But even though He’s technically a god and not a
saint, I thought it’s only right to dedicate the day we celebrate Jesus’
birthday on, to Him.
“…an angel of
the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream, saying, “Joseph… do not fear to
take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy
Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call
his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their
sins.” Matthew 1:19-20
Here’s my loose interpretation and application to our personal lives:
Don’t be afraid to do what God asks you because of what people will think. You
have a chance to be a part of something really huge! This also leads one to the
True Cost of Christmas – both for Him and us. For Him, the ultimate Giver of
gifts, it’s the sacrifice of a completely perfect life for a completely
imperfect one. For us, who get the Ultimate Gift, the True Cost of Christmas is
any sacrifice we make in this life in exchange for eternal life. It is in
remembrance of this that we exchange small,
significant gifts over Christmas.
 |
| Christmas gifts - it's the thought that counts. |
It’s also the symbolism of the first of the twelve gifts in the TwelveDays of Christmas. Although many have since discredited the legend that this
famous Christmas carol was used as catechism, it’s still interesting to look
at. The True Love of course is said to be God or Jesus. The partridge symbolises
Jesus. And the pear tree, earth housing all the different birds of humankind.
Or something to that extent.
So that, in a nutshell, is the story of Christmas and the Twelve Days of
Christmas, starting on Christmas day and making the magic last a little longer!
Share your Christmas presents and magic with #12TigerTales via Twitter or Facebook
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