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みんなで歌おうクリスマスソング！
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
聞く
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree. 
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
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.
On the fourth 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.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent 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-swi'mmi'ng, six geese a-laying, five golden rings. Fou'r 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.
Most folks, I believe, are familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days
of Christmas". If you listen to the words carefully, it seems like nonsence set
to rhyme and music. However, it was written with a serious purpose.
It is more than just a list of twelve silly gifts. Catholics in England
during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith
either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic. [Note: Parliament
finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.]
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the
"catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In
short, it was a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young
catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities
would not know that it was a religious song. Actually, the catecism to which it
referred was rather ecumenical so could probably be claimed to be protestant if
cornered.
The song's gifts had hidden meanings to the teachings of the Catholic faith.
The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, but it
refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every
baptized person. i.e. the church. The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus,
the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother
partridge in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of
Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my
wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."
Here is a complete list of the 12 symbols with their meanings*:
1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus
Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith,
Hope and Charity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four
Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the
"Pentateuch" which contain the law condemning us of our sins.
6 Geese
A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith
8 Maids A-milking
= the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Spirit
10
Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful
apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the
Apostle's Creed
*original source of symbol meaning: an article from Catholic
Information Network that we discovered in 1995 by Fr. Hal Stockert of
Fishnet. We then discovered some other resources that backed-up this article,
but later discovered that these all linked back to Stockert's article. In
actuality, it seems that the words originated around 1780 in England and the
music much earlier from France. The song was merely a child's game with no
religious significance. (See the explanation in "black print" further up on this
page.)
OK, so the song is thought by many (though wrongly) to be a symbolic catechism.
Those who research it, say the song was merely a Children's Memory game. I know
that. However, I didn't always know that. Once I tried sending my true-love of
the time the twelve gifts of Christmas, figuring that would really impress her.
I wanted to see what her reaction would be. I have read of others trying it, but
their accounts were rather gross and they used the wrong dates and wrong gifts.
Anyway, my true-love was very good at writing thank you notes, so I have it well
documented. NOTE: After this act, she withdrew from being my
true love, so I will withold her real address and name.
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