The Twelve Days of Christmas

        The Twelve Days of Christmas is actually a catechism song.

        Between the years 1558-1829, English Catholics were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Without regular mass, sacrament, or catechism lessons from the priest, there were little parents could do to help their children learn and remember about their faith. this song was created to keep the Catholic faith in their lives, event though hidden for the time.

        Instead of referring to a suitor, the "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents symbolises every baptized person.

        'A partridge in a pear tree' is Jesus Christ. A mother partridge will feign injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings. The children hearing this song would know that, and would understand the parallel between the acts of a mother bird, and the sacrifice of Christ.

        The other symbols continue the lessons:

        2 turtle doves--the Old and New Testaments;
        3 French hens--Faith, Hope and Charity;
        4 calling birds--the Four Gospels;
        5 golden rings--the first five books of the Old Testament, which give the history of man's fall from grace;
        6 geese a laying--the six days of creation;
        7 swans a swimming--seven gifts of the Holy Spirit;
        8 maids a milking--the eight Beatitudes;
        9 ladies dancing--nine choirs of angels;
        10 lords a leaping--the Ten Commandments;
        11 pipers piping--the eleven faithful Apostles;
        12 drummers drumming--the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.


	The "Twelve Days of Christmas" song is actually a catechism song-Fiction! This is one of the Christmas stories that pops up each year. It claims that the colorful lyrics of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" actually emerged from a time in Christian church history when it was tough be a member of a particular kind of church so the song was one of the ways that basic theology could be remembered. For details, go to: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/twelvedaysofchristmas.htm

08:44 12/11/2002

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Five gold rings.
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Seven swans aswimming,
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Eight maids amilking,
Seven swans aswimming,
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids amilking,
Seven swans aswimming,
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Ten lords aleaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids amilking,
Seven swans aswimming,
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the 'leventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
'Leven pipers piping,
Ten lords aleaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids amilking,
Seven swans aswimming,
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me:
Twelve drummers drumming,
'Leven pipers piping,
Ten lords aleaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids amilking,
Seven swans aswimming,
Six geese alaying,
Five gold rings!
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two Turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

Music provided by: The Catholic Net.

Want to buy sheet music, songbooks or guitar tabs?

They have over a quarter million titles to choose from, and you can order online.

Here's your chance to find more MIDI music and vote

on how much you enjoyed the Ol'Kunnel's MIDI music page.

A hobby web site; nothing for sale; no fee, no profit. We just enjoy life on the 'Net using 300 pages with only a partial reflection of my omnivorous interests. Enjoy! Main Key Words: aviation,chat,country,family,friendship,god,honor,music,mankind,military,opinion,fact,fiction,dog,war">