The Story behind Twelve Days of Christmas

I received this email a couple of years ago stating the real meaning of the Carol. I tried checking it on the internet and yielded a rather confusing result. First, my favorite rumor email site, snopes.com says that this is false.  But further researching it, I found a lot of articles from religious-related site explaining it further. Anyway, if you will look into the song, the first 7 gifts are technically birds (Partridge, Turtle dove, French hen, Collie Birds not calling, Gold ring necked birds, Geese, Swan) while the remaining five are servants of a monarchy (maids, lady, lord, piper, drummers). Anyway, for posterity sake here is the email. It is up to you to decide if it has indeed a religious meaning.

-----Original Message-----
From: AGENT D
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:01 PM
Subject: The Story behind Twelve Days of Christmas

The Story behind Twelve Days of Christmas

Below is an explanation from 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were

not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote

this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of

meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of

their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality

which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree

was Jesus Christ

The Two Turtle Doves

were the Old and New Testaments

The Three French Hens

stood for faith, hope and love

The Four Calling Birds

were the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

The Five Golden Rings

recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament

The Six Geese-a-Laying

stood of the six days of creation

The Seven Swans a-Swimming

represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy SpiritProphesy, Serving, Teaching,

Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy

The Eight Maids a-Milking

were the eight beatitudes

The Nine Ladies Dancing

were the nine fruits of the Holy SpiritLove, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,

Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control

The Ten Lords a-Leaping

were the ten commandments

The Eleven Pipers Piping

stood for the eleven faithful disciples

The Twelve Drummers Drumming

symbolized for the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed

~ Author Unknown ~