The Origins of "The 12 Days of Christmas"

Interesting tidbit that a friend emailed to me this week about the origins of this song that we all know.

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From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.

Someone during that era wrote "The 12 Days of Christmas" 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 carol 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 & John.


• The five golden rings recalled the Torah or 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 in the Apostles' Creed.