Written in 1780
The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas carol. 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 the Church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
The History of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'
| On the "" day of Christmas, | My true love sent to me - | Symbolizes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | A Partridge in a Pear Tree | Jesus Christ |
| 2nd | Two Turtle Doves | The Old and New Testaments |
| 3rd | Three French Hens | Faith, Hope, and Charity |
| 4th | Four Calling Birds | The Four Gospels |
| 5th | Five Golden Rings | The first five books of the Old Testament |
| 6th | Six Geese A-laying | The six days of creation |
| 7th | Seven Swans A-swimming | The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit - The seven sacraments |
| 8th | Eight Maids A-milking | The eight beatitudes |
| 9th | Nine Ladies Dancing | The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit |
| 10th | Ten Lords A-leaping | The Ten Commandments |
| 11th | Eleven Pipers Piping | The eleven faithful apostles |
| 12th | Twelve Drummers Drumming | The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed |