Alva Review-Courier -

I don't know who figured this out but it works for me. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represent the seven-fold gift of the Holy Spirit: prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contributions, leadership and mercy. The eight maids a-mi...