The Twelve Days of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas mentioned in the following carol starts with Christmas Day on 25th December and concludes with the Epiphany eve on 5th January. Though they were observed first by the English in the sixteenth century, the music of the carol is said to be French. It was first published in 1780 and all the symbols mentioned in the lyrics have a special religious significance.





On the first day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

A partridge in a pear tree.



On the second day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the third day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the fourth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the fifth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the sixth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the seventh day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the eighth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the ninth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the tenth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Ten lords a-leaping,

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the eleventh day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a-leaping,

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.



On the twelfth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Twelve drummers drumming,

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a-leaping,

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree!