The 12 Days of Christmas Carol

The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas carol, although the music is reputed to be French. rom 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. To fit the number scheme, when you reach number 9, representing the Fruits of the Holy Ghost, the originator combined 6 to make 3, taking the 6 fruits that were similar: the fruit in each parenthesis is the that was not named separately. There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost. The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators. According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS: The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments  The 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 rerepresented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.  Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.  Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity]. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.  The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.  The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed. The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) start with Christmas Day and finish with the eve of Epiphany on 5th January. On the first day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  A partridge in a pear tree.  On the second day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  Two turtle doves,  And a partridge in a pear tree.  On the third day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  Three French hens,  Two turtle doves,  And a partridge in a pear tree.  On the fourth day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  Four calling birds,  Three French hens,  Two turtle doves,  And a partridge in a pear tree.  On the fifth day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  Five golden rings,  Four calling birds,  Three French hens,  Two turtle doves,  And a partridge in a pear tree.  On the sixth day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  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 seventh day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  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 eighth day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  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 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,  my true love sent to me  Ten lords a-leaping,  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 eleventh day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  Eleven pipers piping,  Ten lords a-leaping,  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 twelfth day of Christmas,  my true love sent to me  Twelve drummers drumming,  Eleven pipers piping,  Ten lords a-leaping,  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!

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