For many, December 25th marks the end of Christmas. In some homes, the opening of presents is barely finished before the tree is undecorated and taken down and put back in the box until the next year.  

Christmas actually begins on December 25th and ends January 5th. These are the twelve days of Christmas as we sing in the well-known carol by the same name.

All the gifts given over the 12 days of Christmas have Christian symbolism.

1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Represents Jesus Christ, the son of God and Saviour to the Christian world.

2. Two Turtles Doves: Represent the Old and New Testament.

3. Three French Hens: Theological virtues Faith, Hope, and Charity.

4. The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

5. First five books of the Old Testament, known as the Pentateuch

6. The six days of creation.

7. The seven sacraments of the Catholic faith: Baptism, communion, reconciliation, confirmation, marriage, ordination, and ritual of last rights.

8. The eight beatitudes found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).

9. The  nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

10. The ten commandments.

11. The eleven apostles: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Jude and Simon (though there were twelve, Judas is excluded due to his betrayal of Jesus).

12. Refers to the twelve points of the Apostle's Creed.

.Now you know the true meaning of, "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Next time you listen to it, perhaps it will take on a slightly greater meaning than it once did.