Many people know of the 12 days of Christmas through the famous song, which lists a series of gifts bought on each day – with a new one added in each verse.
Penned by English composer Frederic Austin, it is arguably one of the most famous festive rhymes, and goes on for a whopping 12 rounds.
It was likely designed as a memory game in which singers tried to remember all 12 verses, which adds up to a very high number of presents.
How many gifts are in the 12 Days of Christmas?
The list of 12 gifts included in the traditional song are:
- A partridge in a pear tree
- Two turtledoves
- Three French hens
- Four calling birds
- Five golden rings
- Six geese a-laying
- Seven swans a-swimming
- Eight maids a milking
- Nine ladies dancing
- 10 lords a-leaping
- 11 pipers piping
- 12 drummers drumming
However, as these presents are repeated in an accumulative manner throughout the song, they multiply to a very high number.
On day one this is simple; just the one gift.
On day two, it is 1 + 2 = 3 gifts.
On day three, it is an additional three gifts on top of day two’s three. Making it 3 + 3 = 6 gifts.
And so forth, until the number reaches 364 presents in total.
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What are the lyrics to the song?
Thought to be French in origin, the song’s lyrics were first published in English in 1780 as part of a children’s book called Mirth Without Mischief.
The first three verses to the song go as follows:
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
From then on, one more item is added each time, until the final verse becomes:
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
12 drummers drumming,
11 pipers piping,
10 lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
And a partridge in a pear tree
What are the 12 days of Christmas?
The 12 days of Christmas mark the period between the birth of Christ and the arrival of the three wise men, or Magi, according to Christian theology. This is known as Twelvetide.
Each day is also a feast day dedicated to a particular saint, with some people celebrating all 12. Some give gifts, with each day representing a wish for the corresponding month of the year, and others light candles.
Naturally, Christmas day itself, commemorating the birth of Christ, is the first day of Christmas.
The Bible doesn’t say when exactly Jesus was born, and it is widely thought that the 25th was chosen simply because this was when celebrations had previously taken place.
Other festivals such as the pagan Winter Solstice and the ancient Roman midwinter festivals Saturnalia and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti took place around this time, so it is possible that Christmas became superimposed on one of these.
The first recorded incidence of Christmas being celebrated on 25 December comes from Rome in 336AD under its first Christian Emperor, Constantine.
The 12 days then conclude on 6 January, known as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, which marks the arrival of the Magi.
Although the 12 days aren’t widely celebrated in the UK in a religious fashion as they once were, 6 January is still regarded as the correct date for getting rid of your Christmas tree and taking down the decorations.
To this day, it is believed to be bad luck to leave them up any longer.