What are The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Lord of Misrule's Christmas Guide
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

What are The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the 12 days that separate Christmas Day, on 25th December, and Epiphany which is celebrated on 6th January. Many people think the 12 Days are the days leading up to Christmas, but they’re not!

Epiphany, depending on the church, marks the day when Jesus was baptised or alternatively the day on which the Three Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to bestow gifts upon the infant child.

There is an urban myth that the 12 Days of Christmas song was written symbolically as follows:

A partridge in a pear tree
The one true God revealed in the form of Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens
Faith, Hope and Charity

Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

Five Golden Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch" which contain the law condemning man for his sins

Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation

Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith

Eight Maids A-milking
The eight beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruits of the Spirit

Ten Lords A-leaping
The Ten Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven faithful apostles

Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Full text of the song

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

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