We sing this song without understanding what it means. Apparently, the song originated in Elizabethan England during the official persecution and prohibition of Catholicism. It’s claimed that an unknown Catholic priest came up with this song as a device to help their children remember some of the basics of the faith and he hid biblical truth in the symbols in the song. The twelve days are the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, which celebrates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus. 

The reader can decide if this is simply folklore or true. However, the song makes little or no sense without some hidden meanings.

The song begins: “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.” The legend says ‘my true love’ represents our heavenly Father; and ‘me’ represents you and me – every man, woman and child on the earth. Why a partridge? Partridges will feign injury to decoy predators away from their young and focus them on themselves. Thus it represents Christ’s sacrifice for us. Why a pear tree? It represents abundant fruitfulness. This Christmas and every Christmas, we should be so glad that Christ was given as God’s “unspeakable gift” to mankind.

‘Two turtle doves’ represent the Old and New Testaments. They could, however, represent the sin offering and the burnt offering (Lev 5:7), or the doves of Noah and the Holy Spirit. ‘Three French hens’ represent faith, hope and love that hatch much goodness and virtue. ‘Four calling birds’ represent the four Gospels. ‘Five golden rings’ represent the Pentateuch, namely the first five books of the Bible. But why not also the five-fold ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher? Or, why not the five golden letters of the word “grace” – God’s riches at Christ’s expense? ‘Six geese a-laying’– These are the six days of creation.

‘Seven swans a-swimming’– These are said to represent the seven spiritual gifts of Romans 12:6-8 – prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership and mercy. But why not also the seven spirits of God? ‘Eight maids a-milking’ are the eight Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. ‘Nine ladies dancing’ are the nine traditional angelic orders or “choirs of angels.” But why not also the nine spiritual gifts of 1Corinthians 12:8-10? ‘Ten lords a-leaping’ are the Ten Commandments. ‘Eleven pipers piping’ are the eleven faithful disciples. And, ‘Twelve drummers drumming’ are the twelve articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

Each of the numbers 2 through 12 are counted down in the song back to ‘the partridge in a pear tree’ – they all flow right back to the fundamental truth that God the Father, our True Love, so loved us that He gave us a Savior, His only Son!

And that is the true nature of our God. He is Love. And, He is a Giver! He is the Supreme Giver of Himself!

The Father gave of Himself. And Jesus gave Himself… completely.

He gave Himself to redeem mankind. He gave Himself to prosper mankind.

He gave Himself in order to deal once and for all with Satan, the arch-deceiver and enemy of our souls – to outsmart him and to seal his fate ….and the fate of all who side with him.

He gave Himself in order to take back what was His. He gave Himself to restore mankind to right relationship with Him.

He gave Himself to light a great fire (Luke 12:49). He gave Himself to shine as a great light in the midst of great darkness (John 8:12).

He gave Himself to reap a harvest – He sowed Himself in the earth that He might reap you and me for heaven.

He gave Himself to heal the sick and bind up the broken-hearted.

He gave Himself for those who knew Him not, who loved Him not, who rejected Him and turned their backs on Him, who pulled the hair from His beard, who ripped His flesh and laid bare His bones.

He gave Himself to you and me – that we might have all of Him… that He could be our all-in-all.

He gave Himself that He could be more than a friend and closer than a brother. He gave Himself that you and He might be one, invisibly joined together, one in Spirit with Him – Him living in you, and you living in Him. He gave Himself that we might be one in Him.

He gave Himself that His life might be your life, His life indwelling you – a new heart and a new life – new wine in new wineskins.

He gave Himself to give you peace, not as the world gives – He held nothing back and gave Himself unconditionally. When we were powerless to help ourselves, He helped us. When we were powerless to save ourselves, He saved us.

We took Him and stripped Him. We beat him to a pulp. We spat on Him. We crucified Him. 

But, the whole time, He was loving on us with perfect love.