๐ŸŽต Christmas Carol Lyrics

The Twelve Days of Christmas lyrics

The full traditional words to The Twelve Days of Christmas, verse by verse, with a little of the carol's history.

The words

Festive Medium

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love 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 true love gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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!

All carol lyrics

About The Twelve Days of Christmas

The twelve days of Christmas run from Christmas Day to 5 January, ending on Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany. The words were first printed in England around 1780 in a children's book called Mirth without Mischief, where the song was a memory and forfeit game: anyone who forgot a line paid a forfeit.

The tune most people know was arranged in 1909 by the English singer and composer Frederic Austin, who also added the long, drawn-out five gold rings.

The Twelve Days of Christmas is traditional and out of copyright, so the words are free to print and sing at school, at church or at home. For printable sheets, download our free carols and activities pack (PDF).