Saturday night as Jo and I were sitting in the living room she asked me if I had heard the story of The Twelve Days of Christmas. I told her I had but couldn’t tell her exactly what they meant. She then read it to me. I had her send it to me via text so I could retype it here for you.

The song was written by Catholics in England as a song to teach their children about the Christian faith.  “True love” refers to God. “Me” refers to every Christian.  The other symbols mean the following:

• 1 Partridge in a pear tree= Jesus Christ
• 2 Turtle Doves= the Old and New Testaments
• 3 French Hens= Faith, Hope and Love or the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
• 4 Calling Birds= the Four Gospels
• 5 Golden Rings= first 5 books of the OT
• 6 Geese-A-Laying= the 6 days of creation
• 7 Swans-A-Swimming= the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit (I cor. 12:8-10)
• 8 Maids-A-Milking= the 8 Beatitudes
• 9 Ladies Dancing= the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
• 10 Lords-A-Leaping= the 10 Commandments
• 11 Pipers Pipers= Eleven Apostles, not Judas
• 12 Drummers Drumming= The Twelve points of Doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

So there you have it.  Brings a whole new meaning to a seemingly fun and mundane and nonsensical song.  Now you can teach it to others!!