The Twelve Days of Christmas

Today is December 13, twelve days before Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas we hear about in song come after Christmas. They are part of the Christian calendar, or “the liturgical year.” Those twelve days are known as “Christmastide” in the liturgical year.
During the season, various festivities are traditionally enjoyed and buildings decorated.
The song seems to have been part of a game that dates from around 1780 in England, and possibly earlier in France. It came to the United States in 1910. The game originally was played on each of the twelve days and was followed by enjoyment of pie and cake.
It is highly unlikely that the words of “Twelve Days of Christmas” represent tenets of faith or a secret code to make sure these principles are not destroyed. More than likely, the song is what most people seem to think it is, a fun song about gifts, dancing and music. The song has more in common with “Row, row, row your boat” or “Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall” than with theology. It glows with praise for gifts, each given on a numbered day: 1. A partridge in a pear tree, 2. Two turtle doves, 3. Three French hens, 4. Four Colly birds, 5. Five golden rings, 6. Six geese a-laying, 7. Seven swans a-swimming, 8. Eight maids a-milking, 9. Nine ladies dancing, 10. Ten lords a-leaping, 11. Eleven pipers piping, and 12. Twelve drummers drumming. The first seven gifts are birds, the remaining five are people.
The lyrics have no meaning. Just enjoy the song.