Folklore or fact ... here is an interesting explanation. From 1558 until 1829, the Catholics of England

were forbidden by law to practice their faith. As a result of this ban, the ingenious Catholics devised secretive

and symbolic songs to teach their children the truths of their religion. One of these was “The

Twelve Days of Christmas.” The twelve days stand for the Christmas season which is December 25 to

January 6. The True Love in the carol is God Himself ... He is the one who gives Christians special gifts

on each of the twelve days.

The first gift is a partridge in a pear tree. The bird stands for Christ, who gathers His young under His

wings. The tree harkens back to the tree of paradise, which Adam lost by sin and Christ promised to restore.

God’s first gift, then, was His very own Son, Jesus. Two turtle doves is the second gift. The

doves represent the sacrifice that a Jewish family had to make to the Temple upon the birth of a son.

Our sacrifice is the divine liturgy. Three French hens symbolize the three gifts of the Magi to the newborn

Messiah. They also may mean the three gifts of faith, hope and charity realized in the birth of the

Savior. Four calling birds make us think of the four evangelists, whose four gospels call us all to the

Bethlehem manger of the Redeemer. Five golden rings suggest the first five Books of the Old Testament,

the Law or Pentateuch, which Christ came to fulfill and complete. Six geese-a-laying, ungainly,

but working, suggests the six days of the week when humanity labors and brings forth the fruit of the

land. Seven swans-a-swimming reminds us of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit or even the seven spiritual

and corporal works of mercy. Eight maids-a-milking represent the eight beatitudes that are the

nourishment of Christians. Nine ladies dancing recalls the nine ranks of angels or the nine fruits of the

Holy Spirit as mentioned by Saint Paul in Galatians 5:22. Ten lords-a-leaping represent the Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping refers to the eleven apostles, now without Judas, proclaiming the

Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Finally, twelve drummers drumming remind us of the twelve

articles of faith in the Nicene Creed.

Perhaps as we look about and bid farewell to the beautiful decorations, the Nativity scene and the lovely

Christmas carols, as we especially appreciate our freedom to worship, this little piece will help us remember

our Christian brothers and sisters in areas of the world where the practice of faith is severely

restricted or even forbidden ... God bless us ... everyone! Pray for the soldiers and pray for the unborn.