12 Days of Christmas Lyrics

Need to know the lyrics to the 12 Days of Christmas? It is a classic Christmas carol that dates back to the 16th century. The song represents the 12 days between the birth of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem.Snopes.com: The 12 Days of Christmas It's first known recording was by James O. Halliwell in 1842 and its first known reference in print was in Mirth Without Mischief in 1780. Brownielocks: History of The 12 Days of Christmas

There is one school of thought on the history and it is that each item is written to remind members of the Catholic faith of their Doctrine.

In this the Partridge is Jesus
The two turtledoves are the Old and new Testaments.
Three french hens are Faith Hope and Love
Four calling birds are Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.
The five golden rings are the 5 books of law which is the Hebrew Torah
The six geese a laying are the six days of creation
The seven swans a swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
The eight maids a milking are the eight beatitudes
The nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
ten lords a leaping are the ten commandments
The eleven pipers piping are the eleven Apostles

and the twelve Drummers drumming are the reminders for the twelve points to the Apostles Creed. This song in this break down is a memory tool for the catechism.

Popular versions include Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck 12 Days of Christmas, The Muppets with John Denver Muppets 12 Days of Christmas and Shrek's "12 Days of Christmas". Each version takes a different play on each of the 12 items, like Shrek's onion rings instead of golden rings, and Foxworthy's 12-pack of Bud instead of drummers drumming.