Versailles News: Six geese a-laying

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Today is the sixth day of Christmas and as the song goes “on the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six geese a-laying.”

Did you get your six geese a-laying? Have you ever wondered about the words to the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” or ever known anyone who celebrated Christmas daily from Christmas to Jan. 5.

You might be surprised to discover that there really are 12 days in the Christmas Season (and more) also called Christmastide or Twelvetide. Christmas is the first day and Jan. 5 is the 12th day. Typically most Western Christian Churches include Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus as part of the liturgical Christmas season.

Amusingly, this bit of Christian trivia makes me think more of an Elvis tune “If Every Day Was like Christmas”, instead of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” The chorus goes like this:

Oh why can’t every day be like Christmas

Why can’t that feeling go on endlessly

For if every day could be just like Christmas

What a wonderful world this would be.

I have always wished Christmas was longer, because it seems to go by so quickly, that is until this year. This year I was more aware of the season of Advent leading up to Christmas and I’m currently observing the Christmastide, keeping my nativity scene displayed at home. And even though the three kings don’t arrive until the Epiphany they are a part of my manger scene, just as baby Jesus has been in his crib prior to Dec. 25.

Getting back to today and the six geese a-laying I have read that this gift stood for the six days of creation. Interestingly enough it seems that the song was an English Christmas carol concocted as a catechism song, not devised as a learning or memory system but as a way to openly practice or profess their faith from 1558 until 1829 when Catholics they were not permitted to do so. Since we have freedom of religion the 12 days of Christmas is simply a Christmas Carol but it would make an awesome way to teach by association.

Deciphering some of the other days of the song include: The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. 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 represented the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The 10 lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. The 11 pipers piping stood for the 11 faithful Apostles. The 12 drummers drumming symbolized the 12 points of belief in The Apostles’ Creed.

It’s Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. Enjoy a happy and healthy new year by keeping Christmas in your heart year round.

Upcoming events:

New Years Eve: You can start making your local plans for New Year’s Eve; the Versailles Vets Club (downstairs) will have open to the public “Karaoke with Orville and Luke” beginning at 9 p.m. The Versailles Eagles will have a member’s only dance with live music by Karma’s Pawn. Tickets are $10 each. Stillwater Valley Golf Course will provide a unique evening of music by Smithville South, all your drinks, the traditional midnight sausage and kraut meal and a ride home, if necessary for $50 per person.

The Versailles Vets Club offers an open to the public Bid Euchre Tournament downstairs at 7 p.m. every Thursday. There is a $5 entry fee. Pinoche is played daily at Eagles (members only) beginning at noon.

The Versailles Diamond Club will hold their eighth annual dinner with an auction Saturday evening, Jan. 14. Tickets are available by contacting Ted Lyons at 937/538-1145 or Tony Rose at 937/632-3132.

There will be a pork loin dinner on Jan. 15 sponsored by the Versailles Knights of Columbus. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased from Roger Schlater 526-9767.

The Versailles Firefighter’s fundraising ball will be held Jan. 21. Dancing is from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. with music by Whiskey Bizness at the Versailles K of C Hall. Pre-sale tickets are $5. Tickets will be available at the door for $7. The firefighters are also selling raffle tickets for $5 or a chance to win a $500 gift card toward a firearm from Copes Distributing, 50-inch HDTV, $200 gift card to Sink Jewelers, or four tickets to a UD Men’s basketball game. Contact a firefighter for tickets. I purchased mine through Joe Jessup. If you’re interested, you can call him at 526-5999.

Birthday wishes to Roger Melling, Adam Borchers, Marie Todd, Leslie Phlipot, Michelle Reed, Graham Egan, Hannah Poling, Judy Mumaw, Shirley Pitsenbarger, Mitchell Rawlins, Susan Browder, Merilyn Borchers, Barb Mangen, Beverly Paxson, Ed Borchers, Blake Monnin, Brian Kruckeberg, Denise Shimp, Crissy Treon, Larry Francis, Rose Schlater, Rebecca Shreffler, Sis Smith, Jill Nieport, Penny Treon, Karen Shardo, Karon Crowell, Judy Criswell, Marcia Schlechty, Kristy Earick, Jeremy Litten, Kara Knapke, and Nickie Meyer as their birthdays approach. Anniversary wishes to Ola and Mike Schafer (44), Judy and Tom Mumaw (49), and Milton and Wanda (Treon) Royer (53). Retirement wishes to Bo Swallow (Subway) and Linda Rhoades (Pepcon).

Please give your supportive and healing prayers for the many who are dealing with any of life’s countless challenges, and especially for Mike Hileman, Ralph Gehret, Dave Fullenkamp, Steve Youngker, Tabitha Sager, Joan DeMange (broken wrist), Amy Poeppelman, Julie Keihl, Joan Magoto, Jeanne Brandon, Squirt Marshal, Ruth Haft, Rosie Pearson, Virginia Smith, John Subler, Sally Monnin, Sondra Spangler, Mary Barga, Wilma Didier, Anabelle Subler, Jeanette Simons, Julia Billenstein, Merilyn Borchers, Lewis Didier, Alan Stammen, Lewis May, Connie (Baltes) Lechleiter, Levadia Barga, Jack Borgerding, Dan Monnin, Linda Wilson, Lois Youngker, Sam Yagle, Barb Goubeaux, David Zumberger, Brian Voisard, Cyril Frantz, Michelle Ullom, Eileen Rahm, Cyril Voisard, Barb Agne, Samantha Smith, and all those not mentioned by name who are ill, suffering, hospitalized or homebound.

Heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Lucas Frye (35) also remembering the lives of Jerry Brown and Jim Patrick McGowan Dorothy Hollopeter, Tim Vagedes, John Bensman, Ronald Vanderhorst, Delbert Stephan, Dennis Bertke, Virgil Soder, Jim Unger, Teresa Etter, Ann York, Gerald Boecke, Cecelia Simon, Bertha Seger, Thomas O’Reilly, Marilyn Grieshop, James Bruns, Everett Crist, Shep Simon, Betty Woodward, Terry Miller, Leetta Hemmelgarn, Karla Borges, John Warner, Agnes Voisard, Jean Ward, Mary Kelch, Dwight Mendenhall, Edna Lennon, Henry Dircksen and all those not mentioned by name as the anniversary of their passing nears.

“You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

“The object of the New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul.” G.K. Chesterton

“In the new year rewrite Impossible into I’m possible!” ~C. Edwards

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By Kathy Magoto

Kathy Magoto is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with her weekly Versailles community column. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 526-3798. Feel free to contact her with Versailles news and tidbits. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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