According to the AIs, it’s NOT a Christian memory aid…
But I learned this in church as a youngster, so here ya go.
The Gifts & Their (Debated) Meanings:
While not a secret code, people have assigned Christian meanings to the items, using the song as a teaching tool:
- Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus Christ (God’s gift).
- Two Turtle Doves: Old & New Testaments.
- Three French Hens: Faith, Hope, Love (or the Trinity).
- Four Calling Birds: Four Gospels.
- Five Golden Rings: God’s infinite love.
- Six Geese A-laying: Six Days of Creation.
- Seven Swans A-swimming: Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Eight Maids A-milking: Eight Beatitudes.
- Nine Ladies Dancing: Nine Fruits of the Spirit.
- Ten Lords A-leaping: Ten Commandments.
- Eleven Pipers Piping: Eleven Faithful Apostles.
- Twelve Drummers Drumming: Twelve Points of the Apostles’ Creed.
Believe what you will!
👍
One article I read, back in the pre-Internet days, claimed that the song was an encoded Catholic catechism reminder.
Which proves yet again that you do not need the Internet to have conspiracy theories …
Ed- Yep!
TXRed- Agreed! And I doubt we will ever know, since none of us were around in the 1700s to know for sure.
I saw a discussion On “the 12 days” that made a solid argument that it is All Birds.
1. Partridge
2. Turtle Doves
3. French Hens
4. Calling Birds Colly (old term for Black) is the original therefore 4 Black Birds
5. Golden Rings…..Ring Neck Pheasants
6. Geese A-Laying
7. Swans A-Swimming
8. Maids A-Milking (Cattle egrets? or Magpies)
9. Ladies Dancing Lapwings or possibly Cranes due to mating dances
10.Lords A-Leaping Jackson’s WidowBirds due Mating Dance
11.Pipers Piping (Sand Pipers?) or older versions of the song has “11 Cocks A-Crowing”
12.Drummers Drumming (Grouse)
What an excellent post! Of course it’d be beyond strange if a fervently Christian culture produced actual Christian songs.
I have a video describing a Victorian Christmas. From what I can gather, it was a custom way back when to start a nightly party at different houses from Christmas until Jan 5 – 12 parties. The last one was to commemorate the arrival of the wise men.
I was kind of curious if the song was somewhat related to the parties from that time.
Kelley- Intersting, I hadn’t seen ‘that’ version.
LSP- Ya think?
Matt- I ‘think’ the two were connected…I think…
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 1st day of Christmas
…
Jan 6 12th day of Christmas
AKA Epiphany
AKA Three Kings Day
Christmas in Puerto Rico is one very long lasting party.
Jamie- Good point!