Which are 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' and what are the lyrics to the song?
25 October 2023, 15:50
By Sian Moore

It comes up every Christmas, and every year you forget the words (bar 'Five Gold Rings', of course). Here’s a handy guide to 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', including its lyrics and meaning.

'The Twelve Days of Christmas' is a rootin'-tootin', singalong Christmas carol that runs through the twelve days that make up the Christmas season – beginning on Christmas Day and ending on 6 January, the day before Epiphany.

Each day represents a new gift, starting with 'a partridge in a pear tree' and ending with ‘twelve drummers drumming'.

It's a traditional English tune dating back to the 1700s, which some historians actually believe to have French origins.

The version we know best came from Frederic Austin, an English composer who set the lyrics and added some flourishes – including the drawn out "five go-old rings" – in 1909.

The carol is a cumulative song, which means that each verse is built on top of the previous verses.

What are the lyrics to 'The 12 Days of Christmas'?

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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.

Read more: The origins of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' – lyrics, numbers and timings explained

OLAADEGBU:


Source

MaxInDHouse:


Kumuyi! Kumuyi!! Kumuyi!!!
Where are you?
Your church boy is fond of Christmas o!

OLAADEGBU:

Christians have the liberty to celebrate Christmas or not unlike you. Anyway, your attention is urgently need

MaxInDHouse:


Does Kumuyi celebrate Christmas?

MaxInDHouse:
Kumuyi! Kumuyi!! Kumuyi!!!
Where are you?
Your church boy is fond of Christmas o!

Aemmyjah:


😂
Kumuyi will disown him

OLAADEGBU:


Don't you know celebrating Christmas alone distinguishes one from your cult? Go figure.

OLAADEGBU:


Don't be a coward, why not ask him?

Aemmyjah:


I can't stop you from celebrating a pagan festival sir

OLAADEGBU:

Don't be a coward, why not ask him?

MaxInDHouse:

Surely Kumuyi is only talking about his own nuclear family here and not his church.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=569wyON5zDQ?si=T5EFl_jmK3U7wvtf

Aemmyjah:

He will say that is not Kumuyi or the video was edited. 😂
OLAADEGBU does not celebrate xmas
He's only counting 12 days of Xmas

MaxInDHouse:

Does Kumuyi celebrate Christmas?

DDIA:
All I want for Christmas is the set of female Ishmealites below.

foleskay:
Christianity brought technology,civilization and democracy. The birth of Jesus is worth celebrating because if he was not born..we won't enjoy all these comforts today. The life will still remain in its Hellenistic and middle ages era. Hallelujah