The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas | |
| On the first day of Christmas My true love sent to me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree.
On the second day of Christmas
On the third day of Christmas
On the fourth day of Christmas
On the fifth day of Christmas
On the sixth day of Christmas
On the seventh day of Christmas
On the eighth day of Christmas |
On the ninth day of Christmas My true love sent to me: Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
On the eleventh day of Christmas
On the twelfth day of Christmas |
The song was written as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song. Actually, the catecism to which it referred was rather ecumenical so could probably be claimed to be protestant if cornered.
Here is a complete list of the 12 symbols with their meanings:
1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
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 contain the law condemning us of our sins.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the 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
From the Catholic Information Network, by Father Hal Stockert.