The Twelve Days of Christmas
The song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, comes out of the tradition of celebrating twelve days between Christmas and the Epiphany. The verses are said to have Christian messages. The true love refers to God’s love for us. The partridge in a pear tree refers to God’s only son, Jesus (The wounded Jesus protects and redeems us, as a partridge protects her young). God gives his only Son, Jesus, to us on Christmas Day. During this Advent and Christmas season, let The Twelve Days of Christmas ring with new spiritual meaning in your heart and soul!
Some of the other interesting interpretations are:
Two Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testament.
Three French Hens refers to faith, hope and charity, the three theological virtues.
Four Calling Birds are the evangelists, the four writers of the Gospels.
Five Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, called the Pentateuch.
Six Geese a-Laying are the six days of creation.
Seven Swans a-Swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Is 11:2-3).
Eight Maids a-Milking are the Eight Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-11).
Nine Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
Ten Lords a-Leaping are the Ten Commandments.
Eleven Pipers Piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
Twelve Drummers Drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed.