i was listening to the radio earlier and heard the DJ talk about the song 12 Days of Christmas. apparently there's a hidden message. i searched for it and found an article about it. "The 12 Days of Christmas" was originally published as a Christmas Carol in 1780. But some say its origins go all the way back to the 16th century when Catholicism was banned in England and Ireland. It was a time when Catholics of the British Isles needed the French Catholics to help them find ways to teach their faith to the little ones in secret. Using an old French children's song, "the 12 Days of Christmas" was born. During the time when practicing the Catholic faith in Ireland could get you thrown in jail (or even executed!), this song was a way for people, especially youngsters, to learn and remember their faith through song, without letting English onlookers know they were singing about their faith. The gifts in the song are symbolic of specific beliefs in the Catholic faith and "my true love" represents God. So what did those silly-sounding Christmas gifts symbolize? * The "twelve drummers drumming" symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed. * The "eleven pipers piping" symbolize the eleven faithful apostles. * The "ten lords a-leaping" symbolize the Ten Commandments. * The "nine ladies dancing" symbolize the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (sometimes also listed as the nine classifications of angels). * The "eight maids a-milking" symbolize the eight Beatitudes. * The "seven swans a-swimming" symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven Sacraments. * The "six geese a-laying" symbolize the six days of creation. * The "five golden rings" symbolize the first five books of the Old Testament, better known in the Catholic Faith as the Pentateuch. * The "four calling birds" symbolize the four Gospels...Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. * The "three French hens" symbolize Faith, Hope and Charity, the three greatest theological virtues. * The "two turtle doves" symbolize the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible * And "a partridge in a pear tree" symbolizes the Messiah, Jesus Christ.