On the first day of Christmas,
a partridge in a pear tree,
on the second day of Christmas,
two turtle doves,
on the third day of Christmas,
three French hens,
on the fourth day of Christmas,
four calling birds,
on the fifth day of Christmas,
five gold rings,
on the sixth day of Christmas,
six geese a-laying,
on the seventh day of Christmas,
seven swans a-swimming,
on the eighth day of Christmas,
eight maids a-milking,
on the ninth day of Christmas,
nine ladies dancing,
on the tenth day of Christmas,
ten lords a-leaping,
on the eleventh day of Christmas,
eleven pipers piping,
on the twelfth day of Christmas,
twelve drummers drumming.
Christ wounded on a cross,
two testaments,
three gifts of the Magi and parts to the Trinity,
four gospels which call to us across space and time,
five wounds of Christ and books of the Pentateuch,
six days of creation,
seven, the divine number of perfection,
eight, Christ rose on the eighth day,
nine fruits of the Spirit,
ten commandments by which to live,
eleven faithful disciples after the betrayal of Judas,
twelve articles in the creed and tribes of Israel.