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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 a religious reality
which the children could remember.

The partridge in a  pear tree was Jesus Christ.  Two turtle doves were the
Old and New Testaments Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The  four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke &
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 sevenfold 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 faithful disciples.  The twelve  drummers
drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

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