The words and music of this traditional English carol may be more than five hundred years old. The legend of three mysterious ships that are seen on Christmas morning has been traced to the ships that brought the relics of the Wise Men to Cologne in 1162. Thus the three ships originally were thought to carry the Wise Men, but later the emphasis was shifted to the Holy Family itself. The question-and-answer format of this carol make it a lively one when divided between two groups that alternate the verses.

I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day,
on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day-,
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

It is typical of the simple faith of the Middle Ages that no one would raise objection to the image of the three ships sailing into little landlocked Bethlehem.

Thanks for posting all the verses to the carol, I don't think I've ever heard more than three.

I do tend to post after 9 my time because it puts the post on the next day's "active" list and the post is up for the entire day. If I do it right before 9, it goes inactive almost immediately when the server clicks over at midnight your time which is 9 my time. I've been doing these Christmas posts after 9 so all of you folks can see them when you check in before you go to work in the AM.

I notice that I've missed quite a few of Peder's posts because he tends to post right before midnight EST. To save time I access the board through the "Today's active posts" page, and his posts have dropped off even though they've only been up for a short time.

It makes perfect sense to me, but since I'm in a rush I'm not sure I'm being clear...

I live on the east coast myself.