The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #16362 Message #1618873
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
02-Dec-05 - 05:39 PM
Thread Name: Twelve Days of Christmas-for teaching catechism?
Subject: RE: Twelve Days of Christmas
As noted before, the 'original' (meaning earliest known in print)version of this secular game song is posted in the DT. A note should be added that it appeared in a toy-book by E. Pearson, c. 1780, a copy at the South Kensington Museum. (See Lina Eckelstein, 1906, "Comparative Studies of Nursery Rhymes," p. 74. (On Line)
Another early version is the one collected by Baring Gould from his aunt Cecily, 'about 1840.' The succession is:
The first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, A part of a juniper tree Two turtle doves etc. Three French hens Four colly-birds Five, a golden ring Six geese a-laying Seven swans a-swimming Eight hares a-running Nine ladies dancing Ten lords a-playing Eleven bears a-baiting Twelve bulls a-roaring.
Note- Only one golden ring at Five. The last two, baiting bears and bulls, is suppressed in present-day UK. Sabine Baring Gould, 1889, Folk Songs of the West;" Twelfth Night Game of Forfeits. Sheet music reproduced in "The Hymns and Carols of Christmas": www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/twelve_days_of_christmas-1.htm
Also in J. O. Halliwell, 1842 (1846 4th ed.), "The Nursery Rhymes of England," pp. 121-123. (on line)
CCL The First day of Christmas My mother sent to me A partridge in a pear-tree.
The second day of Christmas My mother sent to me Two turtle doves, etc. Three French hens Four canary birds Five gold rings Six geese a-laying Seven swans a-swimming Eight ladies dancing Nine lords a-leaping Ten ships a-sailing Eleven ladies spinning Twelve bells ringing.
"Each child in succession repeats the gifts of the day, and forfeits for each mistake. The accumulative process is a favorite with children; in early writers, such as Homer, the repetition of messages, etc., pleases on the same principle."
These may have been posted before, but I think it worthwhile to have them together. I do not have the version of Edward F. Rimbault, 1864.