One of those Christmas songs that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless you do a little research – The Twelve Days of Christmas refers to the time between Christmas Day and Epiphany.  

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to receive these gifts and the mess you’d have to clean up after receiving them, not to mention the cacophony that would fill the rafters.

There’s a lot of speculation as to what this carol means, but one thought is that it was a way for children to remember the tenets of the church.

To me the focus should be on the partridge in the pear tree, since it’s mentioned with each additional gift. The “true love” in the song is reference to our One and Only God, who loved us so much more than we deserve.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree – Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves – The Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens – The three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity

Four Calling/Collie Birds – Four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Five Golden Rings – First five books of the Old Testament

Six Geese-a-Laying – Six days of creation before God’s rest on the seventh day

Seven Swans-a-Swimming – Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Eight Maids-a-Milking – Eight Beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing – Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit

Ten Lords-a-Leaping – Ten Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping – Eleven faithful disciples

Twelve Drummers Drumming -Twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

Gives the song a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?