THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
(Traditional, as published in Halliwell's The Nursery Rhymes of England, 1842)
The first day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
A partridge in a pear-tree.
The second day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Two turtle-doves and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The third day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Three French hens, two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The fourth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Four canary birds, three French hens, two
turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The fifth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Five gold rings, four canary birds,
three French hens, two turtle doves, and
a partridge in a pear-tree.
The sixth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Six geese a laying, five gold rings,
four canary birds, three French hens, two
turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The seventh day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying,
five gold rings, four canary birds,
three French hens, two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The eighth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Eight ladies dancing, seven swans a swimming,
six geese a laying, five gold rings,
four canary birds, three French hens,
two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The ninth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Nine lords a leaping, eight ladies dancing,
seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying,
five gold rings, four canary birds,
three French hens, two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The tenth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Ten ships a sailing, nine lords a leaping,
eight ladies dancing, seven swans a swimming,
six geese a laying, five gold rings,
four canary birds, three French hens,
two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The eleventh day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Eleven ladies spinning, ten ships a sailing,
nine lords a leaping, eight ladies dancing,
seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying,
five gold rings, four canary birds,
three French hens, two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear-tree.
The twelfth day of Christmas
My mother sent to me
Twelve bells ringing, eleven ladies spinning,
ten ships a sailing, nine lords a leaping,
eight ladies dancing, seven swans a swimming,
six geese a laying, five gold rings,
four canary birds, three French hens, two
turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
[Each child in succession repeats the gifts of the day, and forfeits for each mistake. This accumulative process is a favorite with children; in early writers, such as Homer, the repetition of messages, &c. pleases on the same principle.]
