Tenth Day of Christmas

On The Tenth Day of Christmas
My True Love Gave to Me
Ten Lords A Leaping

The Ten Commandments

Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids A Milking, Seven Swans A Swimming, Six Geese A Laying, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, and a Partridge In a Pear Tree.


Almost everyone is familiar with the song without being aware of the symbolism and legends associated with each of the days.The 12 Days of Christmas actually begin at sundown on Christmas day (December 25) and proceed evening/day until the morning of January 6 or Epiphany which marks the celebration of the arrival of the Three Kings with their gifts for the Christ Child in the Church Calendar. This is the official period of Christmastide.

By legend each of the 12 days has a liturgical meaning used to teach children, the illiterate, and those not allowed to practice their faith openly due to religious persecution.

Thus the "first day" is Jesus the gift of salvation; Day 2 is the Old and New Testament; Day 3 Faith, Hope and Charity; Day 4 The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John); Day 5 is the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. Six Days of Creation. Seven Gifts of the Spirit. Eight Beatitudes. Nine Choirs of Angels.

And my absolute favorite of the modern "Lords A Leaping" - Hugh Jackman -

He'll never be the boy next Door