Last Updated on 2024-11-18 by Llilium
「聖誕節的12日」這首歌起源於18世紀的英格蘭，是英國兒童演唱的一種記憶的遊戲，在遊戲中玩家必須記住所有先前的歌詞，並在末尾添加新的歌詞，那些無法記住的人以親吻或給糖果的形式來結束遊戲。
這首歌不只是訓練記憶力，也包含了序數(第幾)和倒數的練習。
聖誕節的12天是從12月25日（耶穌基督的誕生）慶祝到主顯節（在1月5日慶祝耶穌榮耀顯現的日子），有些人會在12天的每一天交換禮物，而不僅僅是在聖誕節那天，「12 Days of Christmas」這首歌就根據贈禮的習俗，搭配聖經上的典故，寫了1 2樣禮物。
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單字&這12樣禮物代表的意義如下：
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 (五隻金戒指)=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 (八位擠奶的佣婦)=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。
12樣禮物代表含意的出處：https://blog.csdn.net/hpdlzu80100/article/details/51752038
這篇部落格文章”聖誕節的十二天“，把十二個出自於聖經的典故，寫得還蠻詳細的，有興趣了解的人可以參考看看。
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歌詞：
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 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
And a partridge in a pear tree
