Christmas in Britain - The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days beginning on the evening of Christmas Day to Epiphany (the evening before is called Twelfth Night). These twelves days are still celebrated in some aspect in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the traditions have almost completely dissappeared in the United States except with a few religious groups.

These holidays have led to a famous holiday song sung in all English-speaking countries, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Versions of this song have existed since the XVI century but the version known today was arranged in the XX century by Frederic Austin.

For the lyrics to this song, go HERE.

VOCABULARY partridge - pedrix turtle dove - tourterelle hen - poule *calling bird - merle ring - anneau, bague goose (irregular plural form - geese) - oie to lay (irregular verb - laid, laid) - pondre swan - cygne maid (archaic) - demoiselle to milk - traire to leap - bondir, sauter piper - joueur de cornemuse to pipe - jouer de la cornemuse drummer - batteur to drum - jouer de la batterie *"colly" or "collie" means "black" and originates from an old English word for "coal." Apparently the sung was orignally sung with 'four collie birds.'