12 Day of Christmas.. how far can you go?

[iago]

Over the past week or so, I've been trying to figure out the lyrics to The 12 Days of Christmas without looking or listening to it. I've been able to remember up to and including the 8th day, and I can remember 2 other gifts, but not which days they go on. That's almost sad, considering that I've never before tried to sing the song, but that the memory of the lyrics just jammed itself in my brain! In any case, how far can you guys go?

Also, what's the deal with the song? The only present in the whole song that's both sensible (and good!) is five golden rings. How the hell do you give somebody a bunch of birds or people? Wtf?

[Blaze]

Perhaps it was a gift to a dictator? 

[rabbit]

Over the past week or so, I've been trying to figure out the lyrics to The 12 Days of Christmas without looking or listening to it. I've been able to remember up to and including the 8th day, and I can remember 2 other gifts, but not which days they go on. That's almost sad, considering that I've never before tried to sing the song, but that the memory of the lyrics just jammed itself in my brain! In any case, how far can you guys go?

Also, what's the deal with the song? The only present in the whole song that's both sensible (and good!) is five golden rings.

I just watched that a capella thing, so I think that's cheating, but I can do all 12 days, minus a few of the middle ones (8 and 10, come to mind, or don't, or whatever...)

How the hell do you give somebody a bunch of birds or people? Wtf?

You can get them at a pet store and Africa, respectively.

[Hitmen]

You can get them at a pet store and Africa, respectively.

The first one yes, but ever since Abraham "party pooper" Lincoln had his way, the second one is a lot harder.

[Sidoh]

I'm not sure how far I could go up and I don't feel like trying right now as I'm pretty lethargic and tired at the moment, but I'm pretty sure the lyrics are an allusion to some of the more significant pillars or events in Christianity.  I might be remembering that incorrectly, though.  I seem to remember that pretty specifically, but maybe it was another song or something...

[iago]

It might be a religious thing, I have no idea. They must mean something, though!

So I was able to remember the objects right up to 12, but I don't know which order they go in. But I'm getting there! By Xmas I might have them all figured out.

[Super_X]

Over the past week or so, I've been trying to figure out the lyrics to The 12 Days of Christmas without looking or listening to it. I've been able to remember up to and including the 8th day, and I can remember 2 other gifts, but not which days they go on. That's almost sad, considering that I've never before tried to sing the song, but that the memory of the lyrics just jammed itself in my brain! In any case, how far can you guys go?

Also, what's the deal with the song? The only present in the whole song that's both sensible (and good!) is five golden rings. How the hell do you give somebody a bunch of birds or people? Wtf?

The song, as far as I've been tought, was a way for the Lutheran church to priase the birth of christ before they had broken off of the Catholic Church. I used to know what each thing was, and meant, but I've sence forgotten.

[Sidoh]

The song, as far as I've been tought, was a way for the Lutheran church to priase the birth of christ before they had broken off of the Catholic Church. I used to know what each thing was, and meant, but I've sence forgotten.

Yeah, that sounds right.  I probably knew that because my family is Lutheran.

[iago]

I read the wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_%28song%29

And it has nothing firm about the origin of the lyrics. Hmm!

[Armin]

I'm not sure how reliable this page is, but it seems to provide a very plausible source.

http://www.carols.org.uk/the_twelve_days_of_christmas.htm

[iago]

None of those make sense to me. It seems like they're all saying, "4 rabid boars refers to the four seasons of the year"...

[Armin]

Most of them don't make sense to me, but a few do. Mostly these:

6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation

When a goose lays an egg, it's creating life. I can see how that'd correspond with creation.

9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

That makes sense to me as well.