The 12 Days of Christmas

According to a book Matthew shared with us during Sunday school a few weeks ago, "The 12 Days of Christmas" song we all know and love is deeply rooted in Christianity. Back in the 1600s (I believe this is correct) when Christians began facing persecution and were forced to meet in secret, believers came up with this song as a way to communicate their faith in 'code' through song.

The 12 days of Christmas started on Dec. 25th, so today would be the 6th day of Christmas.....
here are the meanings of days one through six...according to the book The Traditions of Christmas:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.

(my true love—God; to me—any believer; a partridge—Jesus…partridge birds were known to die for their young)

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtle doves

(2 turtle doves—the Old and New Testaments)

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens

(3 French hens…from 1 Cor.13—faith, hope, and love)

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me four calling birds

(4 calling birds—the 4 Gospels)

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five golden rings

(5 golden rings—the Pentateuch; the 1^st 5 books of the OT)

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six geese-a-laying

(6 geese—the 6 days of Creation…when the world was ‘hatched’ by God)

I will post the other days later!