The Twelve Days of Christmas
Mino Cinelu and Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My lover gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas
My lover gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas
My lover gave to me
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My lover 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 lover gave to me
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
My lover gave to me
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
My lover gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My lover gave to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My lover gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
The lyrics of "12 Days of Christmas" depict a counting sequence, where every day from the 1st to the 12th, the singer's lover gives them a gift. As the days go by, the gifts become more extravagant, with the addition of new animals, objects, and people each day. The song starts with the gift of a partridge in a pear tree and builds up to include two turtle doves, three French hens, four calling birds, five gold rings, six geese a-laying, seven swans a-swimming, eight maids a-milking, nine ladies dancing, ten lords a-leaping, eleven pipers piping, and twelve drummers drumming.
The song is often interpreted as a celebration of love and generosity. The lover is showering their significant other with gifts and attention, showing their deep affection and commitment. Each gift is unique and special, demonstrating the thoughtfulness and creativity of the giver. As the gifts become more numerous and diverse, the song highlights the wealth and abundance of the relationship. It's a joyous and festive expression of love, perfect for the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas celebration
My lover gave to me
My lover gifted me with
A partridge in a pear tree
One partridge bird sitting on the branch of a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas
On the second day of the festive season
Two turtle doves
Two small doves also known as lovebirds
And a partridge in a pear tree
In addition to the bird on the pear tree from the first day
On the third day of Christmas
On the third day of the festive season
Three French hens
Three domesticated chicken hens from France
Two turtle doves
Two lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird sitting on a pear tree gifted on the first day
On the fourth day of Christmas
On the fourth day of the seasonal celebration
Four calling birds
Four small songbirds used to make calls and sounds
Three French hens
The French hens gifted on the third day
Two turtle doves
The lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird perched on a pear tree gifted on the first day
On the fifth day of Christmas
On the fifth day of the festive season
Five gold rings
Five jewelry rings made of gold
Four calling birds
The songbirds gifted on the fourth day
Three French hens
The domesticated hens from France gifted on the third day
Two turtle doves
The lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird perched on a pear tree gifted on the first day
On the sixth day of Christmas
On the sixth day of the holiday season
Six geese a-laying
Six female geese laying eggs
Five gold rings
The five gold jewelry rings gifted on the fifth day
Four calling birds
The small songbirds gifted on the fourth day
Three French hens
The domesticated hens from France gifted on the third day
Two turtle doves
The lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird perched on a pear tree gifted on the first day
On the seventh day of Christmas
On the seventh day of the holiday celebration
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven large and graceful swans swimming
Six geese a-laying
The six geese laying eggs gifted on the sixth day
Five gold rings
The five gold jewelry rings gifted on the fifth day
Four calling birds
The small songbirds gifted on the fourth day
Three French hens
The domesticated hens from France gifted on the third day
Two turtle doves
The lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird perched on a pear tree gifted on the first day
On the eighth day of Christmas
On the eighth day of the holiday season
Eight maids a-milking
Eight young women milking cows
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven graceful swans swimming
Six geese a-laying
The six geese laying eggs gifted on the sixth day
Five gold rings
The five gold jewelry rings gifted on the fifth day
Four calling birds
The small songbirds gifted on the fourth day
Three French hens
The domesticated hens from France gifted on the third day
Two turtle doves
Two lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird perched on a pear tree gifted on the first day
On the ninth day of Christmas
On the ninth day of the festive season
Nine ladies dancing
Nine women dancing to music
Eight maids a-milking
Eight young women milking cows
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven graceful swans swimming
Six geese a-laying
The six geese laying eggs gifted on the sixth day
Five gold rings
The five gold jewelry rings gifted on the fifth day
Four calling birds
The small songbirds gifted on the fourth day
Three French hens
The domesticated hens from France gifted on the third day
Two turtle doves
The lovebirds gifted on the second day
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird perched on a pear tree gifted on the first day
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind