I just learned something new.  This is a bit of information that was sent to me via email:

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled many.  What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?  hmmm

so It seems like this is the scoop:

From 1558 till 1828, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. So someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song fro young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: The Surface meaning, and a hidden meaning (This was only known to members of that church). Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ - (Isaiah 9:6)
   
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
3. Three french hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love - (1 Corninthians 13:13)
   
4. Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
5. Five golden rings recalls the Torah of Law, the first five books of the Old Testament
6. Six geese a-laying stood for the Six Days of Creation- (Genesis 1-27)
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) Prophesy 2) Serving 3)Teaching 4)Exhortation 5)Contribution 6)Leadership and 7)Mercy
8. The Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes- (Matthew 5:3-12)
   
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control- (Galatians 5:22-23)
10. The Ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments - (Exodus 20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020&version=NIV
11. The Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples
12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of the belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

So now you know!