Twelve Days of Christmas
New Zealand Twelve Days of Christmas
Many children in New Zealand and around the world enjoy singing the popular Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Originally a memory game for English children, you'll no longer have to remember all twelve verses; we provide the complete lyrics and tell you more about the history and meaning of this Christmas ditty.
One of the most popular Christmas songs is The Twelve Days of Christmas, a traditional English Christmas carol which dates back to the sixteenth century. The song's lyrics describe an increasingly elaborate series of gifts, given on each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas Day.
Twelve Days of Christmas Lyrics
Lyrics for The 12 Days of Christmas were originally taken from a children’s rhyme published in England in 1780, in which each verse builds on the last. To save you the effort, we’ve provided the complete lyrics:
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.
What do the twelve Christmas gifts mean?
Far too many extravagant Christmas gifts, or something more? The words to this popular Christmas song do have symbolic meaning that connects them to important aspects of the Christian faith. The rhyme was traditionally recited as part of a children’s memory game designed to teach various aspects of the scriptures:
In the 1st verse - one true love refers to God
In the 2nd verse - the two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments
In the 3rd verse - the three French hens refer to the virtues of faith, hope and charity
In the 4th verse - the four calling birds are the Four Gospels
In the 5th verse - the five golden rings are the first Five Books of the Old Testament
In the 6th verse - the six geese represent the six days of creation
In the 7th verse - the seven swans are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
In the 8th verse - the eight maids milking cows are the eight beatitudes
In the 9th verse - the nine dancing ladies are the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
In the 10th verse - the ten lords symbolize the Ten Commandments
In the 11h verse - the eleven pipers stand for the eleven faithful apostles (excluding Judas)
In the 12th verse - the twelve drummers represent the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Learn more about the traditions and celebration of a Christian Christmas.
A Kiwi version of the Twelve Days of Christmas
For a uniquely New Zealand Christmas song, sing Sir Kingi Ihaka’s version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Ihaka was a Maori songwriter, broadcaster and interpreter who wrote this version of the song in 1981.The stars of this Kiwi Christmas carol, A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree, are taken straight from New Zealand culture, wildlife and flora.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve piupius swinging
Eleven haka lessons
Ten juicy fish heads
Nine sacks of pipis
Eight plants of puha
Seven eels a swimming
Six pois a twirling
Five - big - fat - pigs !
Four huhu grubs
Three flax kits
Two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree.
Looking for Christmas music? Find The Twelve Days of Christmas MP3 and other Christmas carols online.
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Seasons and Celebrations images from Flickr: Dyed Eggs, Chickees and Chocolate Bunnies.
