The Twelve Days of Christmas
by Anonymous
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.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 fiddlers fiddling,
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.
Summary of The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Popularity of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”: The carol is a classic holiday song that has been sung in homes and churches for generations. The earliest known publication appears in the 1780 children’s book Mirth Without Mischief. While some versions are known for their repetitive structure, the tune most often used today was arranged by Frederic Austin in 1909.
- Interpretation and Themes: Though the lyrics are primarily a playful celebration of gifts, many listeners and scholars have explored symbolic readings. The most common interpretations suggest that the gifts reflect aspects of Christian teaching, but there is no consensus and the song is not officially recognized as a catechetical text. Themes of joy, gratitude, and affection are central, and the carol has become a staple of Christmas celebrations worldwide.
- Historical Context: The song grew in popularity during the 19th century and has been recorded in countless versions. Its enduring appeal lies in its rhythmic repetition and the imagery of each day’s gift.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
Literary devices help convey emotion and meaning. The following are notable in this carol.
- Imagery: Each gift creates a vivid picture, from the bright “gold rings” to the graceful “swans a‑swimming.” The sensory details invite listeners to visualize the gifts.
- Repetition: The line “A partridge in a pear tree” repeats in every stanza, creating a musical refrain and reinforcing the central image.
- Consonance: Repeated consonant sounds—such as the “t” in “two turtle doves” and “partridge” or the “s” in “swans a‑swimming”—add musical quality.
- Alliteration: Lines such as “Seven swans a‑swimming” and “Nine drummers drumming” use repeated initial consonants, contributing to the song’s rhythmic feel.
- End Rhyme: While the verses do not follow a strict rhyme scheme, the ending of each stanza often ends with a word that echoes the previous stanza, giving a subtle sense of harmony.
- Enjambment: Lines continue seamlessly into the next without a pause, e.g. “Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.” This flow helps maintain the song’s momentum.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
Poetic devices focus on the structure and formal aspects of the poem.
- Stanza: Each day is presented in a separate stanza, with the stanza length increasing by one line each day.
- Refrain: The repeated line “A partridge in a pear tree” functions as a refrain that binds the stanzas together.
- Repetition: The incremental addition of gifts creates a cumulative pattern that builds excitement as the song progresses.
- Structure: The song follows a simple AABB rhyme pattern within each stanza, aiding memorization and sing‑ability.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines can be used for teaching counting backwards, while the repetition of consonant sounds aids phonetic awareness.
The twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me,
Twelve fiddlers fiddling,
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.