and a beer in a tree

Way back when during the reformation, Catholics were persecuted in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. It was during this era that someone wrote 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' as a kind of secret catechism that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality:

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three french hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the Torah - the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese of laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.
8. The eight maids a milking are the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Spirit.
10. The ten lords a leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful diciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.



And there are other various interpretations as well:

According to Bob Rivers of Twisted Christmas:

The first thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me
Is finding a Christmas tree

The second thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me:
Angry husband:
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree

The third thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me
Man getting over being drunk:
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree

The fourth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me
Exhausted man:
Sending Christmas cards
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree

The fifth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me
Five months of bills!
Sending Christmas cards
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree

The sixth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me:
Nervous wife:
Facing my in-laws
Five months of bills!
Oh, I hate those Christmas cards!
Hangovers
Rigging up these lights!
And finding a Christmas tree

The seventh thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me:
Nervous wife's husband:
The Salvation Army
Facing my in-laws
Five months of bills!
Sending Christmas cards
Oh, geez!
I'm tryin' to rig up these lights!
And finding a Christmas tree

The eighth thing at Christmas that such a pain to me:
Whining kid:
I WANNA TRANSFORMER FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!
Charities,
And whataya mean "YOUR in-laws"?!?
Five months of bills!
Oh, making out these cards
Honey, get me a beer, huh?
What, we have no extension cords?!?
And finding a Christmas tree

The ninth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me
A tired father:
Finding parking spaces
DADDY, I WANT SOME CANDY!!!!
Donations!
Facing my in-laws
Five months of bills!
Writing out those Christmas cards
Hangovers!
Now why the hell are they blinking?!?!?
And finding a Christmas tree

The tenth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me:
A mother:
"Batteries Not Included"
No parking spaces
BUY ME SOMETHIN'!!!
Get a job, ya bum!
Oh, facing my in-laws!
Five months of bills!
Yo-ho, sending Christmas cards
Oh, geez, look at this!
One light goes out, they ALL go out!!!
And finding a Christmas tree

The eleventh thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me:
A male couch potato:
Stale TV specials
"Batteries Not Included"
No parking spaces
DAD, I GOTTA GO TA BATHROOM!!
Charities!
She's a witch...I hate her!
Five months of bills!
Oh, I don't even KNOW half these people!
Oh, who's got the toilet paper, huh?
Get a flashlight...I blew a fuse!!
And finding a Christmas tree

The twelfth thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me:
Two men:
Singing Christmas carols
Stale TV specials
"Batteries Not Included"
No parking?!?
WAAAAAAAAAAH! WAAAAAAAAAAH!
Charities!
Gotta make 'em dinner!
Five months of bills!
I'm not sendin' them this year, that's it!
Shut up, you!
FINE! YOU'RE SO SMART, YOU RIG UP THE LIGHTS!!!
And finding a Christmas tree


and of course, Bob & Doug McKenzie's Version:

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, A beer.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Two turtle-necks, And a beer.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Three French toast
D: Two turtle-necks
B: And a beer.
On the Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Four pounds of back-bacon
B: Three French toast
D: Two turtle-necks
B: And a beer. ...in a tree. See,
Oh..fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Five golden tooks,
D: Four pound of back-bacon
B: Three French toast
D: Two turtle necks
B: And a beer...where? In a tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Six packs of two-four B &
C: Five golden tooks
Four pounds of back-bacon
Three French toast
Two turtle-necks
And a beer in a tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Seven pack of smokes,
six packs of two-four B & C:
five golden tooks.
Four pounds of back-bacon
Three French toast
Two turtle-necks
And a beer (with Doug) in a tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, may true love gave to me,
Eight comic books
Seven packs of smokes
Six pack of two-four
Five golden tooks
Four pounds of back-bacon
Three French toast
Two turtle-necks
And a beer... On my tree.

on the twelfth day of christmas, my true love gave to me,
12 dozen doughnuts