Advent Calendar Day 9: Relient K: 12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

 

On the first day of Christmas

my true love gave to me

a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the second day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.

 

On the third day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the fourth day of Christmas,

My true love gave 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 gave to me,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree.

 

What’s a partridge?

And what’s a pear tree?

I don’t know so please don’t ask me

But I can bet those are terrible gifts to get.

 

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.

 

What’s a partridge?

And what’s a pear tree?

I don’t know so please don’t ask me

But I can bet those are terrible gifts to get.

 

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-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 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.

 

12 Days of Christmas is a traditional Christmas song, but the meaning is symbolic and is not easy to understand. There are quite a lot of explanations for what the figures of the lyrics might mean. For example:

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 Turtle Doves = the Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings = the first Five Books of the Old Testament which give the history of man’s fall from grace

6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy 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

 

Can you collect the numerals from the lyrics? We give you the cardinal number and you should write the ordinal number next to it.

one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten
eleven
twelve

 

Key

one	first, 1st
two	second, 2nd
three	third, 3rd
four	fourth, 4th
five	fifth, 5th
six	sixth, 6th
seven	seventh, 7th
eight	eighth, 8th
nine	ninth, 9th
ten	tenth, 10th
eleven	eleventh, 11th
twelve	twelfth, 12th