People only just realising what 'five golden rings' means in Christmas carol

20.12.2022 - 14:59 / dailyrecord.co.uk

People on social media have been left dumbfounded after finding out the meaning behind a line in a classic Christmas song.

Each year 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' can often be heard playing in homes and shops all over the world. The lyrics, which were first published back in the 18th century, detail the gifts given on each day of Christmas - including turtle doves, maids-a-milking and pipers piping.

Many of us are probably very familiar with the words, but it turns out one specific line in the song means something completely different to what you might think.

One of the most prominent parts of the song is undoubtedly the 'five golden rings' line, which is belted out slower (and often louder) than any other lyrics.

But it turns out that the person's true love did not in fact give them five pieces of expensive jewellery, as one woman on Twitter pointed out.

User @AnnaGHughes shared her revelation on social media, saying: "Learning that "five gooolden riings" is not in fact referring to 5 literal golden rings, but to five ring-necked pheasants, aka more birds".

The song already features many lyrics about giving fowl as festive gifts, meaning the 'five golden rings' line only adds to what is presumably a very messy Christmas.

In the replies, people were shocked to find out that this was what the line meant, and equally as baffled at the inclusion of even more birds.

One person said: "Wait. What. How many damn birds are in this song????"

Another added: "I read this out loud to my partner and he shouted “No!” as if i had just told him Christmas was canceled forever".

And a third questioned: "The one good present is actually birds?"

However, some people were quick to explain that Anna's theory was nothing more than a rumour.

One