Twelve Days of Christmas
There are a lot of rumors about “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, an old French song that first showed in English written form in the children's book《Mirth Without Mischief》in A.D. 1780. One rumor is that it was a secret code, used by Catholics to pass the Faith down to their children during the Cromwell-led persecutions in England and Ireland. The supposed symbolism goes like these :
1 Partridge in a Pear Tree means the 1 Christ
2 Turtle Doves means the 2 Testaments (Old and New)
3 French Hens means the 3 Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity
4 Colly Birds means the 4 Gospels and the 4 Evangelists
5 Golden Rings means the 5 Books of the Old Testament (Torah)
6 Geese A-laying means the 6 days of Creation
7 Swans A-swimming means the 7 Sacraments
8 Maids A-milking means the 8 Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing means the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping means the 10 Commandments
11 Pipers Piping means the 11 faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming means the 12 points of doctrine in the Creed
However, don’t take it so serious. This song is just a Twelfthnight song sung by children as a "memory and forfeits" game. Whoever first forgets a line is lose. The melody is lovely and easy to remember, and below are the lyrics:
The 12 Days of Christmas
The first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
The second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
The third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
The fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
The fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
The sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
The seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
The eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly 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 drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
The tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
The eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
The twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve lords a-leaping,
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
You can also listen to the wonderful song in the following video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXV-huCSk5c&list=PLE1C3D9F7D30ABEB0
And of course there are a lot of modern, remix and funny new versions of the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iGc-eHNoBo&list=PLE1C3D9F7D30ABEB0
By the way, wish you all a merry christmas, and a happy new year !
我記得中學時,經常用呢首歌,教我口地會話.