Christmas music: The Twelve Days of Christmas
Chanson de Christmas issue d’une comptine, et particulièrement populaire dans les pays anglophones, The Twelve Days of Christmas, proviendrait d’un jeu de mémoire. Les paroles mentionnant douze cadeaux, lesquelles doivent toujours être répétées en y ajoutant le dernier gift, ressemblent effectivement à un jeu de mémoire. La mélodie quant à elle remonterait au XVIe siècle, et tirerait son origine de la Scandinavie. Néanmoins, celle que l’on peut entendre aujourd’hui ne constitue pas la mélodie originale, celle-ci ayant été modifiée par Frederic Austin au début du XXe siècle.
Rumors about this ancient Christmas carol still circulate. Some claim that the gifts mentioned in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" may conceal clues related to the Catholic religion. Others claim that it was composed at a time when revealing such clues was forbidden. However, history cannot confirm these claims.
The Twelve Days of Christmas has been popularized and recorded by many artists, such as Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Harry Belafonte, Burl Ives, Perry Como, Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra. In French, it is known as "Les douze jours de Noël," but its sound has never been able to match that of the English version. In addition, in the French version, there are some variations in the lyrics.
Youtube video
Youtube video
Youtube video
Lyrics (English version)
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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 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 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 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 golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!