Twelve Days of Christmas

2013/12/22 07:35:05 網誌分類: 音樂
22 Dec

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 bookMirth Without Mischiefin 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 :

 

12 Days of Christmas Lyrics

 

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 !

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ycf
ycf 2013/12/22 20:44:41 回覆

我記得中學時,經常用呢首歌,教我口地會話.

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