2007-12-19 10:34:07 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Lyrics
Hi,
I was expecting this to be a relatively straight-forward answer, but, as it turns out, the original author of this Christmas classic is largely unknown.
An article from Associated Content explains that it was first written in the 16th century as a memory game for children. Another site writes that "the earliest printed version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' is in a children's book, Mirth without Mischief, published in 1780."
The song itself is "apparently much older than that, and was originally French rather than English. For example, the partridge was not introduced into England from France until the late 1770's".
While nobody seems to know who wrote the original poem, one thing is for sure -- the price of all the gifts mentioned in the poem continues to rise every year. In fact, according to PNC Bank, in 2007, the presents would run you about $19,507.19.
Mike
2007-12-19 11:34:24 · answer #1 · answered by Ask Mike 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The tradition I follow includes 12 days in the Christmas season. The Christmas season goes from Christmas day on December 25th until Epiphany on January 6th. Epiphany is the day we remember the Magi visiting the infant Jesus, it's also called Twelfth Night or Three Kings Day in other cultures. The song celebrates the traditional 12 days of Christmas, the days between when we remember the birth of Jesus until the day we remember the visit of the Magi.
2016-05-25 02:15:19 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The date of the song's first performance is not known, though it was used in European and Scandinavian traditions as early as the 16th century. In the early 20th century, Frederic Austin wrote an arrangement where he added his melody from "Five golden rings" onwards (The New Oxford Book of Carols), which has since become standard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_%28song%29
2007-12-19 10:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frederick Silver
2007-12-19 10:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by Frosty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it dates back to the 1700s or before. It was a game played by children in France.
2007-12-19 10:50:01 · answer #5 · answered by Libragal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The song was first compossed by catholics in England in the 16th century.
2007-12-19 14:11:32 · answer #6 · answered by Kimberly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 1, Christmas Day, December 25
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 2, December 26
Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 3, December 27
Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 4, December 28
Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 5, December 29
Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 6, December 30
Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 7, December 31
Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 8, January 1
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 9, January 2
Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 10, January 3
Ten Lords A-leaping
The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 11, January 4
Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Day 12, January 5
Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.
.
2007-12-20 04:49:23 · answer #7 · answered by Mari 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the origin is not known
2007-12-19 10:48:20 · answer #8 · answered by gjean6662 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
someone who liked birds apparently, partridges, turtle doves, geese, swans, who the hell needs all these birds lol
2007-12-20 04:05:31 · answer #9 · answered by Stan Gemini 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_%28song%29
2007-12-19 10:37:01 · answer #10 · answered by iannn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋