Twelve days of Christmas, interesting…..

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith during a time of great persecution.The songs “gifts” are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."The other symbols mean the following:2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's CreedP.S. It has come to our attention that this tale is made up of both fact and fiction. Hopefully it will be accepted in the spirit it was written.