The Twelve Days of Christmas
The cumulative carol that counts to Christmas
♫ Lyrics
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
❄ The Story
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English cumulative song, first published in the 1780 children's book "Mirth Without Mischief." The "twelve days" refer to the period between Christmas Day (December 25) and Epiphany (January 6), which in Christian tradition marks the arrival of the Magi.
A popular theory suggests the song was a secret catechism for persecuted Catholics in 16th-century England, with each gift representing a religious concept (the "true love" being God, the "partridge" being Christ, etc.). However, most historians and folklorists consider this theory a modern invention with no historical evidence — the song is almost certainly a simple memory-and-forfeit game for children.
The cumulative structure makes the song increasingly challenging (and amusing) to sing, which is precisely the point. PNC Financial Services has calculated the "Christmas Price Index" — the real-world cost of all the gifts — every year since 1984. In recent years, the total has exceeded $46,000, with the "seven swans a-swimming" being the most expensive item.
🎶 Notable Recordings
The playful, classic version
A comedic rendition with Miss Piggy
A viral a cappella mashup that launched a career
Fun Facts
The total cost of all the gifts (364 items) was calculated at over $46,000 by PNC Financial Services in 2023.
The "secret Catholic catechism" theory is widely considered a modern myth with no historical evidence.
The song was originally a children's memory-and-forfeit game — get a word wrong and you owe a penalty.
"Four calling birds" was originally "four colly birds" — "colly" meaning black, referring to blackbirds.