Christmas songs become unavoidable as the festive season sets in but one of the most famous tunes may have a different meaning than first thought. While Mariah Carey's high notes and LadBaby's latest chart topping charity song are played over and over, the meaning of one of the most famous Christmas carols has recently been the subject of discussion.
The '12 Days of Christmas' carol can be heard around the globe each year, and as reported by the Mirror references biblical history. Many will be familiar with the lyrics, with each line listing a gift given on each day of Christmas - from turtle doves to a partridge in a pear tree.
But one lyric has left people baffled after it was argued to have a different meaning from what it initially appears. Earlier this week, Dr. Anna Hughes, who has a PHD in astrophysics and works in quantum computing, shared a bombshell revelation about the carol that has left people confused.
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Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "Learning that "five gooolden riings" is not in fact referring to 5 literal golden rings, but to five ring-necked pheasants, aka more birds".
While many had envisioned gold jewellery, the gift appears to be yet another bird according to the viral theory. Flocking to the widely shared Twitter thread to share their shock, one person wrote: "Uh, so are the maids a-milking, ladies dancing, lords a-leaping, pipers piping and drummers drumming somehow birds also?"
Meanwhile, another added: "You cannot be serious. How many birds do I need". A third wrote: "I read this out loud to my partner and he shouted "No!" as if i had just told him Christmas was canceled [sic] forever".
Others tried to disprove the theory, with one Twitter user musing: "Doesn't seem likely: the first illustration was of five gold rings, I can't find any reference to pheasants with golden neck rings (they are white feathers irl) and ringnecked pheasants were only introduced to England shortly before that first illustration."
Outside of the lyric theory, people are generally puzzled as to why there are so many birds in the song - but there is no solid answer. Birds are historically symbolic in Christian faith, which could explain the repeated mentions, but even the origin of the song itself is disputed - so we're all left guessing.
Another ring theory proposes the five golden rings are a Biblical reference to the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Pentateuch. The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology that marks the period between the birth of Christ and the coming of the three wise men.
Although scholars believe that the carol has French origins, it first appeared in the English children's book Mirth With-out Mischief, published in 1780. The lyrics have changed over the years, only adding to the song's mystery. Either way, it's safe to say that singing 'five gold rings' will never feel the same again.
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