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Christmas Carols · No. 16 · Words: Traditional
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →A cumulative English Christmas carol first published in 1780, listing twelve gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Its origins are likely a memory-and-forfeits parlor game song.
Verse 1
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 2
On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 3
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.
Verse 4
On the forth 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.
Verse 5
On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 6
On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 7
On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 8
On 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 calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 9
On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 10
On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 11
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent 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 gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
Verse 12
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent 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 gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
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