One of the most popular traditional carols in England is very modern as it is about counting Christmas presents! The Twelve Days of Christmas tells the story of a series of increasingly impressive gifts given (we assume) by a man to the woman he loves, one on each day, for 12 days!
The Twelve Days of Xmas: A Song for Christmas
The lyrics of the song were first published in England in 1780 and its music was first included in a book of nursery rhyme tunes in 1842 but it is thought that the carol was sung for a long time before that.
Why twelve?
The 12 days the song refers to start with the day after Christmas Day. The 26th is known as ‘Boxing Day’ in the UK, Australia and Canada, and St Stephen’s Day in Ireland, and is a public holiday. The 12 days end on ‘Twelfth Night’, the evening of the 5th of January. As English cultures do not celebrate ‘Kings’ Day’, Twelfth Night is considered to be the very last day of celebration. Traditionally, all Christmas decorations including the tree have to be taken down that night, or it’s bad luck!
Back to the gifts
The unusual gifts included in the song might provide a clue to its mysterious origins. On the first day, the lucky woman receives ‘a partridge in a pear tree,’ however, English partridges do not perch in trees! Some historians think that it must refer to a French partridge, which is a more adventurous bird.
As French partridges were not introduced into England until the late 18th century, they say that it may originally have been a French song which was translated and popularised in England. Naturally, many English people are very resistant to that idea. What does it mean? Apart from making us feel envious, is there a meaning to the song? The 12 days of gifts have been associated with the 12 months of the year, each gift relating to the English climate of that month.
This interpretation doesn’t seem conclusive, however, as no verse actually mentions rain. There is also an idea that the song was a way for young Catholics to remember religious doctrine at a time when Catholicism in England was discouraged, but there is no proof of that either.
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Lyrics of The Twelve Days of christmas
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 geeselaying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
The song continues until ...
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords leaping,
nine ladies dancing,
eight maidsmilking,
Seven swans swimming,
Six geese laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree!