Danske Julesange

The Twelve Days of Christmas

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 forth 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

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Om julesangen The Twelve Days of Christmas

Sangen var oprindeligt en leg, ikke en salme. Den blev trykt første gang i 1780 i den engelske børnebog Mirth Without Mischief, hvor den indgik som en hukommelsesleg: deltagerne skulle på skift gentage hele rækken af gaver, og den, der snublede, måtte betale et pant. Det forklarer både den voksende opremsning og de mange lokale varianter, hvor gaverne skifter fra egn til egn.

Den version, vi synger i dag, skylder vi den engelske sanger og komponist Frederic Austin, som i 1909 udgav sit arrangement. Det var ham, der indførte den lange, udtrukne “five gold rings”, som alle venter på. En populær teori går på, at sangen skulle være et hemmeligt katolsk trosskema fra forfølgelsernes tid, hvor hver gave stod for et punkt i troslæren – men der findes ingen historiske beviser for det. De tolv dage er derimod reelle nok: de løber fra juledag til helligtrekonger.

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