a partridge in a pear tree.

[flordehinojos]

i just got this e-mail from a friend. i am passing it on. in case you want to know.

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 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 religious reality
> which the children could remember. The partridge in the pear tree was
> Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves were the Old and the New testaments. Three
> French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were
> the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The five golden rings
> recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The
> six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans
> a-swimming represented the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit - Prophesy,
> Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The
> eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were
> the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,
> Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. The ten lords
> a-leaping were the ten commandments. The eleven pipers piping stood for
> the eleven disciples. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve
> points of belief in the Apostles Creed. So, there is your history for
> today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and
> enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas
> Carol? so pass it on if you wish.
>

[realisticphish]

1. Snopes says "nope"

interesting read, though
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/12days.asp

[tjwmason]

2. As realisticphish says - it's a myth.

Note that every single one of the elements being taught was taught by the Church of England, thus Roman Catholics wouldn't need to be careful about teaching them.

That said, if one wishes to use it as a catechital device, then there's obviously no problem - the use of numerical lists is a widespread device.