This beloved Christmas carol was written by the English
Jesuits of the 16th century as a catechetical device. At that time, Catholics were not permitted to
practice their faith openly. It was written to educate the faithful in
the doctrines of the faith. The numbers are simply a mnemonic to help Catholics
remember some basic facts:
1. The
partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ on the cross.
2. Two
turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three
French hens were the three persons in one God.
4. The four
callings birds were the four Gospels.
5. The five
golden rings were first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six
geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven
swans a-swimming recalled the seven Sacraments.
8. Eight
maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine drummers
drumming (now nine ladies dancing) were the nine choirs of angels.
10. Ten lords
a-leaping were the ten Commandments.
11. The
eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve
drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles'
Creed.
“My true love” refers to God, “me” is the
individual Christian receiving God’s love.