The 12 Days of Christmas

                                        "The 12 Days of Christmas”

There is one Christmas Carol that has baffled people and that Carol is
"The 12 Days of Christmas”

From 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 their church. Each element in the song has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
 

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 recalled the Torah of Law, the first five books of the old Testament

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

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control

The Ten Lords a-leaping were the ten Commandments

The eleven Pipers piping stood for the (eleven faithful) disciples

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief

Contained in the Apostles’ Creed.