The Twelve Days of Christmas

From George O. Howell (ed.), The Kentish Note Book Vol. 1, 1891, pp238-240.
Reprinted from Gravesend and Dartford Reporter, 18^th January 1890.

Contributed by “TYPO”, Gravesend, Kent.

Roud 68

The Twelve Days of Christmas, extending from Christmas to Epiphany, were usually in olden times, the days of the old year wherein to mako merry, and to fraternize in mirth and good fellowship. Songs relating to festivals and customs possess a special interest not adequately measured by their poetical pretensions. The “Twelve Days of Christmas,” an old-fashioned carol, was formerly played as a forfeit game, each player in turn having to repeat the gifts of a day, incurring a forfeit tor every mistake. It will be observed in the appended carol, that each verse not only celebrates the gifts of each day, which are accumulative, but requires a good memory on the part of those who make their first attempt in it as a forfeit game. Several batches of Gravesend youngsters were heard singing this peculiar Yule-tide ditty, and as I am told it is known in various parts of our county, I should like to know whether the effusion is Kentish or otherwise.

Here is a correct copy of the words of the carol, which may interest the readers of the “K.N.B.”

Gravesend                                                                                               TYPO.