こんにちは
クリスマスにちなんで、
The Twelve Days of Christmas
という歌を紹介します。
この歌は、下記のYou Tubeリンクで聴けます。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7cSZD1GPuU
この歌は、一日目のクリスマスの日から、１２日目の１月５日（the Epiphany=公現祭、１月６日)の前夜までの数え歌です。
the Epiphany （エピファニー） はキリスト教の公現祭、 顕現日です。
こエピファニーは、キリストの誕生を見るためにやって来た東方の三博士 (Magi) のベツレヘム来訪を祝う日で、 1 月 6 日です。クリスマス後の 12 日目に当たり，Twelfth Day ともいいます。クリスマスの飾りつけなどは、普通この日までに片づけます。
この歌が生まれたは１６世紀のイギリスで、当時の英国教会によって迫害されていたカトリック信者らが、自分たちの信仰をこの歌に託して歌っていたと言われています。
今も、とてもポピュラーな歌です。数え歌ですね。
一日目から１２日目まで全部歌ってみると、口を動かす練習になります。
YouTubeの動画の歌と一緒に歌ってみてはどうでしょうか。ちょっと早く感じますが、歌っていると慣れてきます。
歌詞も、とても面白いですが、裏にカトリック信者の信仰がシンボリックに歌われているということです。
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
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.
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.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 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 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 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 golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!