The Twelve Days of Christmas

When Oliver Cromwell came to power in England, Catholics were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Tradition holds that Catholic parents developed "The Twelve Days of Christmas" to teach children their beliefs.

represents Jesus (the partridge will sacrifice its life to save its young).

: The Old and New Testaments

: Faith, hope, and charity, or the three gifts of the Wise Men

: The four Evangelists--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

: The first five books of the Old Testament

: The six days of creation described in Genesis

: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord)

: The eight Beatitudes

: The nine choirs of angels (Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and regular angels); or the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control).

: The Ten Commandments

: The eleven faithful Apostles

: The twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed