"The Twelve Days of Christmas" Song - The Religious Significance

Mention of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas", and the parody version "The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" reminded me of another piece about the song. Did you know that it was used to teach Roman Catholic children the basics of their faith, when their religion was banned in this country.

Below is the explanation of their interpretation of the song:



The term “calling birds” in the carol is a derivation from the original “colly” or “collie” bird. “Colly” means “black” and comes from the word coal. Hence the four colly birds in the carol refer to blackbirds.

However the carol has a hidden meaning. During the C16th the Catholics were not allowed to practice their faith. In order to teach their children the basic doctrines, they made up nonsense songs in order not to arouse the suspicions of those non Catholics around them.



1. A partridge in a pear tree - Jesus on the Cross

2. Two turtle doves - the Old and the New testaments, which are essential to each other.
“New is in Old contained,
Old is in New explained”

3. Three French hens - were expensive in the 1500’s and so symbolised the three gifts brought by the Three Wise Men. They could also depict the three virtues - Faith, Hope and Charity.

4. Four calling birds - the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

5. Five gold rings - the first five books of the Old Testament - The Pentateuch.

6. Six geese a-laying - refers to the six days of Creation (Genesis)

7. Seven swans a-swimming - the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 12 vss 6 - 8)

8. Eight maids a-milking - these refer to the eight blessings listed in Matthew 5 vss 3 - 10,
known as the beatitudes [Blessed are the poor....]

9. Nine ladies dancing - the nine fruits of the spirit (Galations 5 vss 22 - 23) Love, Joy, Peace &c.

10. Ten Lords a-leaping - the Ten Commandments. We seem to have lost the vision of these today. They are the basis of living in relationship with God and each other.

11. Eleven pipers piping - the eleven faithful apostles [less Judas the betrayer]

12. Twelve drummers drumming - The Apostles Creed [I believe in God the Father, maker of Heaven and Earth.....]