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!
《註》十二種禮物所代表的寓義……
1 a partridge in a pear tree (一隻站在梨樹上的鷓鴣鳥) = 即神之子,耶穌基督。
2 Turtle Doves (兩隻鳩)= 舊約及新約聖經。
3 French Hens (三隻法國母雞)= 信、望、愛三教義。
4 Calling Birds (四隻鳴唱的鳥兒)= 新約聖經的前四卷,或者這四福音的四位作者。
5 Golden Rings (五只金戒指)= 摩西五經,主要是在講人類為何墮入凡塵。
6 Geese A-laying (六隻生蛋的鵝)= 主創造世界的六天
7 Swans A-swimming (七隻游水的天鵝)= 七種聖事,即洗禮、堅信、聖禮、告解、塗油、敘階和婚姻。
8 Maids A-milking (八位擠奶的傭婦)= 八福,即穌登山訓眾所說的八種幸福。
9 Ladies Dancing (九位跳舞的女士)= 九種聖果,即仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制。
10 Lords A-leaping (十個跳躍的男人)= 十誡。
11 Pipers Piping (十一個吹風笛的風笛手)= 十一個忠心的使徒。
12 Drummers Drumming (十二個打鼓的鼓手)= 使徒的十二信條。