In the Catholic Church, the Christmas season starts on the evening before Christmas Day and lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - celebrated on the Sunday after the Feast of the Ephany (January 6th).
This is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus hence the song "Twelve Days of Christmas". The gifts are symbolic as follows:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus ChristTwo Turtle Doves: The Old and New Testaments
Three French Hens: The Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity)
Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels / The Four Evangelists
Five Golden Rings: The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”
Six Geese a-Laying: The Six Days of Creation
Seven Swans a-Swimming: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit or the Seven Sacraments
Eight Maids a-Milking: The Eight Beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing: The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten Lords a-Leaping: The Ten Commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping: The Eleven Faithful Apostles
Twelve Drummers Drumming: The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
H/T to A Roman Catholic Cop
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