The real meaning of the 12 Days of Christmas

[rocklobster]

I thought I'd repost this for all you newbies. We've all sung the 12 Days of Christmas. But did you know it's actually a secret list of the "gifts" of Christianity?
Here's what the gifts really are:

1. the partridge in the pear tree: Jesus Christ
2. the turtledoves: the Old and New Testament
3. the French Hens: the Holy Trinity
4. the Calling Birds: the four writers of the gospels
5. the Golden Rings: The first five books of the Pentateuch (sp?)
6. the Geese a-laying: the six days of creation (note: God rested on the seventh, so it doesn't count)
7. the Swans a-swimming: the seven sacraments
8. the Maids a-milking: the eight beautitudes
9. the Ladies dancing: the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit
10. the Lords a-leaping: the 10 commandments
11. the Pipers Piping: the 11 faithful apostles (Judas betrayed, so he's not faithful)
12. the Drummers Drumming: the 12 tribes of Israel.

[TheMelodyMaker]

Interesting; I didn't know that before. (Not sure what the "seven sacraments" are, though. ^_^; )

[Tenshi no Ai]

Really? Not sure why they'd make it such a symbolic song going from Bible stuff to birds and the like^^

[beau99]

Snopes says differently.

[Technomancer]

[quote="TheMelodyMaker"]Interesting]

They're the seven sacraments recognized by the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Baptism
Confession
Communion
Confirmation
Marriage
Holy Orders (ordination)
Extreme Unction (last rites)

Of course, as beau99 has pointed out there are strong problems with attributing the items in the song to religious symbolism.

[Nate]

I found it interesting that since the five golden rings are actually pheasants, that means the first seven gifts are birds.

Man. That woman sure must've liked birds. Or at least her true love had better hope that she does. XD

[Tommy]

Snopes says differently.

Check the status.

[Nate]

Check the status.

Um...yeah. It says the status is "False." That's what beau was saying. That the song has no religious connotations.

I fail to see what you're trying to say.

[Tommy]

Oh, I don't think it needs any explanation.

Just know I misunderstood him.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Hm what do you know? It's like today how I found out that pointsettas poisoning and killing animals is an urban legend too, apparently (unless they eat a VERY unreasonable amount of it).