|
|
|
|
|
| Christmas Carnivals » Christmas Birds » Christmas Bird Carols |
Christmas Bird Carols |
By Christmas Bird Carols we usually refer to the famous carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Christmas is the time of the year when folks in the country and in the city jubilate to their hearts content. All the celebrations and merriment are generally dedicated to the birth of Christ, our Lord.
Christmas carols have always played a very important role in the holiday traditions and are fondly remembered and sung religiously not merely during Christmas but also during other times of the year.
One of the most popular Christmas carols of all times, The Twelve days of Christmas first published in 1780 is laden with allegorical meanings and is symbolic of all the sacred things, which make up Christmas.Though it dates back to the 16th century and is often regarded to be of an English lineage, its French inclination has often been harped upon. In this popular carol we get to see the names of quite a number of birds. The most interesting thing about this carol is that, though it appears very simple and straight forward, its every single line is pregnant with metaphorical meanings.
The carol, the twelve days of Christmas starts with the Christmas Day and ends with the Epiphany on the 5th day of January. The lyrics of the carol have religious significance as each of the things mentioned in the carol have some kind of historical lineage and harbor connections that pertain to Christmas in some form or the other. In the said carol, the Turtle Doves stand for the Old and New Testaments, the French Hens refer to Theological Virtues in the form of Charity, Faith, Hope.
|
Calling Birds signify the Four Gospels or refers to the Four Evangelists while the Geese A points to the six days of creation and Swans A refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit i.e. the seven sacraments
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 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!
For more details on Christmas Bird Carols log on to our site Christmas Carnivals.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
