twelve_days Oliver Twist Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) 1 True Love refers to God 2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments 3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues 4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists 5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace. 6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation 7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments 8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes 9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit 10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments 11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles 12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed 041207 ... epitome of incomprehensibility I don't know about that, since numbers have innumerable associations. But in choir (concert tomorrow!) there's a song called The Twelve Days of Christmas Praise that makes this tune explicitly Christian. Which is cheesy in a way, but then I liked how bits of Handel's Hallelujuah Chorus are integrated in the middle & end of the piece. And some people would find THAT cheesy. So there you go. (e.g. "fiiiive gooolden riiings" is "Priiiiince ooo-ooof Peaaaace") 221125 ... e_o_i "uuuu-uuuuv" would be a more accurate phonetic representation of the "of" syllable stretched out. ...weird things bug me, okay? :) 221125 what's it to you? who go blather from