More about The Twelve Days of Christmas

After writing my last post on this topic I found more about this interesting carol in another of last week's emails!
An article in Marchmont St Giles Church Magazine tells us that -
'This very interesting carol originated as a Hebrew hymn, which begins, “In those twelve days ...” In the Middle Ages, the song was rewritten with Christian images. The final verse and its English translation follows:

Tell me, what are the twelve things?

Twelve apostles; Eleven stars seen by Joseph;
Ten Commandments of God; Nine choirs of angels;
Eight beatitudes; Seven sacraments;
Six water jars in Cana Galilee; Five Books of Moses;
Four Evangelists; Three Patriarchs;
Two Testaments; One God who reigns in Heaven.

By the 18th Century, it had become the Christmas carol we know
today'