THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
(Traditional, as published in The Folk-Lore Journal, 1889)
The first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
The sprig of a juniper tree.
The second day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Two turtledoves and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The third day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Three French hens, two turtledoves,
And the sprig of a juniper tree.
The fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Four coloured birds, three French hens,
two turtledoves, and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Five gold rings, four coloured birds, three French hens,
two turtledoves, and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four coloured birds,
three French hens, two turtledoves,
and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying,
five gold rings, four coloured birds, three French hens,
two turtledoves, and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Eight hares a-running, seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four coloured birds,
three French hens, two turtledoves,
and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Nine bulls a-roaring, eight hares a-running,
seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying,
five gold rings, four coloured birds, three French hens,
two turtledoves, and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Ten men a-mowing, nine bulls a-roaring,
eight hares a-running, seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four coloured birds,
three French hens, two turtledoves,
and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Eleven dancers a-dancing, ten men a-mowing,
nine bulls a-roaring, eight hares a-running,
seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying,
five gold rings, four coloured birds,
three French hens, two turtledoves,
and the sprig of a juniper tree.
The twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Twelve fiddlers a-fiddling, eleven dancers a-dancing,
ten men a-mowing, nine bulls a-roaring,
eight hares a-running, seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four coloured birds,
three French hens, two turtledoves,
and the sprig of a juniper tree.
