Twelve Days of Christmas

Previously unissued photo dated 18/12/12 of two turtle doves, pictured at the Glasgow Museum Resource Centre, representing the Two Turtle Doves during a Twelve Days of Christmas themed tour organised by the museum. The turtle dove is a species that mates for life, so the giving of two turtle doves could be a way the lover is expressing his intention of love and marriage. While the other six birds sung about in the song probably ended up on the table, the turtle doves would have been delivered to one's lover live and in a cage to be kept as pets for enjoyment. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)