Snopes.com reports the following as being "FALSE" but for me it is still a nice concept of this song.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.
Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: The surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to the members of their church. Each element in the carol had code words for a religious reality which the children could remember.
1- True Love refers to God
2- Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3- French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4- Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5- Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6- Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7- Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8- Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9- Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10- Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11- Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12- Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
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