On the first day of Christmas my true love
sent to me a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
five gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
six geese a-laying,
five gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the seventh day of Christmas my true love
sent to me
seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying,
five gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
eight maids a-milking,
seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying,
five gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
nine ladies dancing,
eight maids a-milking,
seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying,
five gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
ten lords a-leaping,
nine ladies dancing,
eight maids a-milking,
seven swans a-swimming,
six geese a-laying,
five gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent 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 gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent 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 gold rings,
four calling birds,
three French hens,
two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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And all together….
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Sarah Gillett is an artist and writer living in London, where she investigates the life of things across space and time. Her favourite Staffordshire figures are ones of cats – majestic prowling big cats, poised cats on cushions, the Lion Queen – but she couldn’t find a way to weave them into her “Twelve days of Staffordshire Christmas”.