13 Days of Yule Song

Many people have heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, but did you know that there is an older tradition known as the 13 Days of Yule?

There is an old Scottish song set to the same music as the 12 Days of Christmas that was sung early in the 1800’s! (By the way, the 12 Days of Christmas was originally from December 25th through January 7th, but nobody I know celebrates this way anymore.The closest thing I’ve seen is in the Catholic Church.)

The song is pretty long, so here’s the short break-down:

Day 1: A Papingoe (some say this is a parrot or a peacock)
Day 2: Three Partridges
Day 3: Three Plovers (a game bird)
Day 4: A Grey Goose
Day 5: Three Starlings
Day 6: Three Goldspinks
Day 7: A Brown Bull
Day 8: Three Merry Ducks-a-laying
Day 9: Three Swans A-Merry Swimming
Day 10: An Arabian Baboon (!)
Day 11: Three Hinds (Hounds) Merry Hunting
Day 12: Three Maids Merry Dancing
Day 13: Three Stalks of Corn

So here are the words to the 13 Days of Yule (it’s pretty long!):

The Thirteen Days of Yule

The King sent his Lady on the first Yule day,
A papingoe*, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the second Yule day,
Two partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the third Yule day,
Three plovers**, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the fourth Yule day,
A goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the fifth Yule day,
Three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the sixth Yule day,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the seventh Yule day,
A bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the eighth Yule day,
Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the ninth Yule day,
Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying,
A bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the tenth Yule day,
An Arabian baboon,
Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying,
A bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the eleventh Yule day,
Three hinds a-merry hunting, an Arabian baboon,
Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying,
A bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the twelfth Yule day,
Three maids a-merry dancing, three hinds a-merry hunting,
An Arabian baboon,
Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying,
A bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

The King sent his lady on the thirteenth Yule day,
Three stalks o merry corn, three maids a-merry dancing,
Three hinds a-merry hunting, an Arabian baboon,
Three swans a-merry swimming, three ducks a-merry laying,
A bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey,
Three plovers, three partridges and a papingoe, aye.
Who learns my carol and carries it away.

Wow! That’s a lot of animals! Hope you enjoyed that. Whether you celebrate Yule or some other holiday, you make the season yours – there are plenty of traditions for us all.

PS You can get lots more fun info about Yule by signing up for the 22 Days of Yule newsletter on the right-hand side of this page.

Love and Blessings,
Amethyst Mahoney