| People often think of "The Twelve Days of | | | | tree. |
| Christmas" as as twelve days before Christmas. | | | | On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to |
| Actually, Epiphany comes after Christmas as the | | | | me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a |
| season of the Christian Year from December 25 until | | | | partridge in a pear tree. |
| January 6. The church celebrates Christ as the Light | | | | On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent |
| of the world and celebrates the journey of the three | | | | to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two |
| magi. | | | | turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. |
| Every day, from December 25 to January 6, was | | | | On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to |
| traditionally a part of the Yuletide celebration. | | | | me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French |
| Dedicated to mercy and compassion, each day was | | | | hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear |
| noted by selfless giving and tender charity. In many | | | | tree. |
| cultures, gift giving was not concentrated on a single | | | | On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to |
| day, but rather, as in the famous folk song, spread | | | | me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling |
| throughout the entire season. | | | | birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a |
| From 1558 to 1829 the Church in England was not | | | | partridge in a pear tree. |
| permitted to worship and practice their faith in the | | | | On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent |
| open. During that time 'The Twelve Days of | | | | to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, |
| Christmas' song was written as a catechism that | | | | Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French |
| could be sung in in the streets without the danger of | | | | hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear |
| being persecuted. The words to the song 12 Days of | | | | tree. |
| Christmas song, in reality are an allegory. The lyrics to | | | | On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent |
| the song can be interpreted in two ways: it has | | | | to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans |
| surface meaning and the meaning known only to the | | | | a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, |
| Church and its members. | | | | Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle |
| Each phrase or word in the carol has an actual | | | | doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. |
| religious meaning. "True love" means God and 'me' | | | | On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to |
| means the Christian believer. On the first day, the | | | | me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven |
| partridge in a pear tree is synonymous to Jesus | | | | swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden |
| Christ's coming to save mankind. | | | | rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two |
| Sing the song to yourself to figure out the rest of | | | | turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. |
| the religious meaning as you browse through the | | | | On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to |
| lyrics to the song, 12 Days of Christmas. | | | | me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight |
| On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to | | | | maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese |
| me A partridge in a pear tree. | | | | a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three |
| On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent | | | | French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a |
| to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear | | | | pear tree. |