On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
my true love gave to me ----- "my true love" refers to God and "me" is you & I
12 lords a leaping ---are the 12 basic beliefs of the Catholic Church as outlined in the Apostles Creed.
11 pipers piping --- are the 11 Apostles who remained faithful after the treachery of Judas.
10 ladies dancing -- are the 10 Commandments
9 drummers drumming --- are the nine choirs of angels which in those days of class distinction were thought important
8 maids a milking --- are the 8 Beatitudes
7 swans a swimming -- are the Seven Sacraments
6 geese a laying -- are the 6 Commandments of the Church or the 6 days of creation
5 golden rings --- are the first 5 books of the Old Testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament
4 calling birds -- are the Four Gospels
3 French hens -- are the 3 Persons in God or the 3 gifts of the Wise Men
2 turtle doves -- represent the 2 natures in Jesus: human & divine or the 2 Testaments, Old & New
And a partridge in a pear tree -- "partridge" is Jesus himself
and the "pear tree" is the Cross
This article about The Real Meaning of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written by Father Edward T. Dowling, S.J. and the Source: Catholic.net
