12 Days of Christmas

There are a lot of rumors about "The Twelve Days of Christmas", an old French song that first showed in English written form in the children's book "Mirth Without Mischief" in A.D. 1780. One rumor is that it was a catechism in code, used by Catholics to pass the Faith down to their children during the Cromwell-led persecutions in England and Ireland. The supposed symbolism goes like this:

Partridge in a Pear Tree	the 1 Christ
2 Turtle Doves	the 2 Testaments, Old and New
3 French Hens	the 3 Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity
4 Colly Birds	the 4 Gospels and the 4 Evangelists
5 Golden Rings	the first 5 Books of the Old Testament (Torah)
6 Geese A-laying	the 6 days of Creation
7 Swans A-swimming	the 7 Sacraments, the 7 Gifts of the Holy Ghost
8 Maids A-milking	the 8 Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing	the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping	the 10 Commandments
11 Pipers Piping	the 11 faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming	the 12 points of doctrine in the Creed

This isn't accurate, though, and is a conflation of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with another catechism song that gave religious symbolism to the 12 days of Christmas -- but wasn't in a "secret code" at all (in other words, an honest mistake).

Other mistakes have crept in over the years. For ex., instead of saying "colly birds," which means blackbirds (colly means "coal dust"), most people say "calling birds." The "5 gold rings" (not "golden") refer not to 5 rings made of gold, but to 5 ring-necked pheasants! As you can see, the first 7 gifts all turn out to be some sort of bird.

At any rate, this song is a Twelfthnight song sung by children as a "memory and forfeits" game. Whoever first forgets a line is out. 

http://www.fisheaters.com/12daysofchristmas.html