12 Days Of Christmas Decoded

• I got this from a co-worker. 

  
  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 the 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.
  
  1 The partridge in the pear tree was Jesus Christ
  
  2 turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
  
  3 French hens stood for Faith, Hope, and Love
  
  4 Calling birds were the four Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John
  
  5 Golden rings are called the Torah, or Law, the first five books in the Bible
  
  6 Geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation
  
  7 Swans a swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit - - Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy
  
  8 Maids a milking were the eight beatitudes
  
  9 Ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit - - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
  
  10 Lords a leaping were the Ten Commandments
  
  11 Pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples
  
  12 Drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed