Welcome to the 2025 Austen Variations Advent Calendar, where our amazing authors will bring you a new gift every day from now until December 24th.
For today’s Advent Calendar ‘puzzle’, I thought it would be nice to set up a fun mix-and-match Pride and Prejudice variation of the Twelve Days of Christmas song. You will be the one who determines what kind of gifts Darcy gives to Elizabeth!
Additionally, you can choose alternative Austenesque words for the song, inspired by the sights and sounds of Jane Austen’s world. You may need to adjust the syllables of the new lyrics a little bit to fit the tune, but that’s part of the fun 🙂
It might be easier if you print it out.
I hope you enjoy it! Happy singing!!!
On the first day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a _____ tree.
On the third day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Three French hens, Two ________, And a partridge in a ______ tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Four calling birds, Three _______, Two ________, And a partridge in a _____tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Five gold rings, Four _______ , Three _______, Two __________, And a partridge in a ______ tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Six geese a-laying, Five ______, Four _______, Three ________, Two _________, And a partridge in a ______ tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Seven swans a-swimming, Six ________, Five ________, Four __________, Three __________, Two _________, And a partridge in a _____ tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Eight maids a-milking, Seven _________, Six _________, Five _________, Four _________, Three _________, Two ________, And a partridge in a _______ tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Nine ladies dancing, Eight _________, Seven _________, Six _________, Five ________, Four _________, Three ________, Two ________, And a partridge in a _______ tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine _________, Eight __________, Seven _____________, Six ___________, Five ____________, Four __________, Three __________, Two ___________, And a partridge in a _______ tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Eleven pipers piping, Ten ___________, Nine ____________, Eight _____________, Seven _____________, Six ___________, Five ___________, Four _______________, Three _____________, Two ____________, And a partridge in a _________ tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Mr. Darcy sent Lizzy, Twelve drummers drumming _____________, Eleven ____________, Ten __________, Nine __________, Eight ___________, Seven _____________, Six _____________, Five ____________, Four _____________, Three ____________, Two _____________, And a partridge in a __________tree!
Check back tomorrow for your next gift.
To see each day so far, visit austenvariations.com/2025-advent-calendar/
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Alas I don’t have a printer (or a very good memory any more!) but I managed to do it anyway! I’m really enjoying this calendar thank you 😃
Author
Well, it sounds like your mind’s pretty sharp, Glynis!! Happy to hear it!!! 🙂
On the first day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, A blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the second day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the third day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls , Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a Laurel tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Seven teacups steaming, Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Eight sheep a-baaing, Seven teacups steaming , Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Nine vicars serving, Eight sheep a-baaing, Seven teacups steaming, Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Ten roses blooming, Nine vicars serving, Eight sheep a-baaing, Seven teacups steaming, Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Eleven friends a-calling, Ten roses blooming_, Nine vicars serving, Eight sheep a-baaing, Seven teacups steaming, Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Darcy sent to Lizzy, Twelve rattles shaking, Eleven friends a-calling, Ten roses blooming_, Nine vicars serving, Eight sheep a-baaing, Seven teacups steaming, Six Shakespear Sonnets, Five gold rings, Four silk shawls, Three Redcap hens, Two lemon tarts, And a blackbird in a laurel tree!
Notes (not the musical kind): apparently blackbirds in England are known for their beautiful singing and over-winter there; the laurel tree symbolizes victory, honor and wisdom in Greek and Roman cultures, and the Derbyshire Redcap hens are valued both for egg and meat production.
Author
Wow! I love this version!! And I love your explanation of your choices! I see you improvised a bit, but that’s a musical prerogative, isn’t it? Thank you for posting your song! I might just stick to that one. 🙂
You might wish to switch “rectors” for “vicars.” I was misremembering the difference between them. Mr. Collins has “his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.” So, he was a rector and not a vicar, meaning that he received the great tithe of the parish rather than the lesser tithes of the vicar. Unfortunately, it would be more unusual to find nine rectors serving (at least if they were like Mr. Collins.”