Check out this detailed description of what this popular holiday tune really means.
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12 Days of Christmas
The "partridge in a pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift from God. And what a precious gift that was! For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
The "two turtle doves" were the Old and New Testaments-another gift from God. Through the Old and New Testaments, Christians can understand more fully the Will of God for their lives.
The "three French hens" were faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13:13).
The "four calling birds" were the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), also called the "Books of Moses."
The "six geese a-laying" were the six days of creation (Genesis 1).
The "seven swans a swimming" were the "seven gifts of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:8-11, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11). These include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues.
The "eight maids a milking" were the eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10).
The "nine ladies dancing" were nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering (or patience in some translations), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.
The "ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).
The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples (Matthew 10:2-4, all of them except, of course, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus).
The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed. (Many encyclopedias should have this if you want to look it up.)
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