12 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 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 gold 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 gold 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 gold 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 gold 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 drummers drumming
     Eight maids a-milking
     Seven swans a-swimming
     Six geese a-laying
     Five gold 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 pipers piping
     Nine drummers drumming
     Eight maids a-milking
     Seven swans a-swimming
     Six geese a-laying
     Five gold rings . . . 
     Four Calling birds
     Three French Hens 
     Two turtle doves 
     And a partridge in a pear tree.

The eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me 
     Eleven ladies dancing
     Ten pipers piping
     Nine drummers drumming
     Eight maids a-milking
     Seven swans a-swimming
     Six geese a-laying
     Five gold rings . . . 
     Four Calling birds
     Three French Hens 
     Two turtle doves 
     And a partridge in a pear tree.

The twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me 
     Twelve lords a-leaping
     Eleven ladies dancing
     Ten pipers piping
     Nine drummers drumming
     Eight maids a-milking
     Seven swans a-swimming
     Six geese a-laying
     Five gold rings . . . 
     Four Calling birds
     Three French Hens 
     Two turtle doves 
     And a partridge in a pear tree.

WAS THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CATHOLIC?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their Faith openly. At that time, this traditional English carol was used as a catechism song for young Catholics. For them, it had two levels of meaning: the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning. The hidden meanings parallel the verses of the Anglican catechism song "A New Dial" about the numbers on a sun-dial.

One 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.

Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

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.

Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

From here on, the order is different from the original song!

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

[Information from Catholic Information and Urban Legends websites]

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