Origins: early versions of 12 days of christmas

Subject: Origins: early versions of 12 days of christmas
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 16 Sep 16 - 05:02 PM

Hi folks- I have just found an intriguing version of the 12 days of Xmas with a minor tune. It also has some lyric differences- 2 fine ducks, 10 bulls a-bellowing, (no "colly" birds) and the last line is one plump partridge in a pear tree. It seems to be pre 1850. It was sung by an elderly woman from Dixfield Maine in 1942 who learned it from her grandmother.
I've done a bit of digging but have only found a Scottish version which has bulls and ducks. Sadly no melody.
Any ideas?
thanks- Julia

Subject: RE: Origins: early versions of 12 days of christmas
From: RTim
Date: 16 Sep 16 - 05:27 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Origins: early versions of 12 days of christmas
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 16 Sep 16 - 05:51 PM

Check out The Watersons singing 'Jolly Old Hawk'

If I remember rightly the regular version is a translation from the French or Breton.

Subject: RE: Origins: early versions of 12 days of christmas
From: Monique
Date: 16 Sep 16 - 06:37 PM

Interesting article here with a link to there.