The “12 Days of Christmas” song is very loving and holiday staple. I don’t know you love it or not but this song is amazing. Some people like other Christmas songs like Feliz Navidad or Mariah Carey. However, the 12 days of Christmas song brings every year something unique and loving.
Even if you don’t understand the lyrics of song, you may remember the verse like “Nine ladies dancing”. But do you know the real message behind “12 Days of Christmas.” This song has hidden meaning for Christmas. The song has not much sense in the modern age but have rich history due to odd lyrics in context.
What are the 12 days of Christmas?
The 12 Days of Christmas refers to the Twelvetide in Christianity. The period consists of 12 days that starts with the birth of Christ on 25th December and ends on 6th January of the coming year. It is also known as Epiphany or three kings day. However, the weeks before Christmas are known as Advent because it is the starting of advent calendars.
“12 Days of Christmas” gifts list
We can count the total number of gifts she receives. She gets:
| 1 partridge in a pear tree on each of the 12 days. | 1 x 12 | = | 12 |
| 2 turtle doves on the last 11 days | 2 x 11 | = | 22 |
| 3 french hens on the last 10 days | 3 x 10 | = | 30 |
| 4 calling (colly) birds on the last 9 days | 4 x 9 | = | 36 |
| 5 golden rings on the last 8 days | 5 x 8 | = | 40 |
| 6 geese a-laying on the last 7 days | 6 x 7 | = | 42 |
| 7 swans a-swimming on the last 6 days | 7 x 6 | = | 42 |
| 8 maids a-milking on the last 5 days | 8 x 5 | = | 40 |
| 9 ladies dancing on the last 4 days | 9 x 4 | = | 36 |
| 10 lords a-leaping on the last 3 days | 10 x 3 | = | 30 |
| 11 pipers piping on the last 2 days. | 11 x 2 | = | 22 |
| 12 drummers drumming on the last day | 12 x 1 | = | 12 |
| Total Gifts | 364 |
Where do the “12 Days of Christmas” lyrics come from?
It is interesting to know that 12 Days of Christmas coming from where. Most scholars say that the song has been originated from French. At start the song was in English children’s book Mirth With-out Mischief. Might be possible, you have not heard about this because it was published in 1780. The first edition make $23,750 on its first sale.
There is a lyric in the song “four calling birds” that is actually “four colly birds.” Colly is an old term that is used for blackbirds. This song has many other old versions. In old versions, the patridge we all know and love is replaced with “very pretty peacock upon a pear tree.” The song that we hear is composed by British composer Frederic Austin.
Is there a hidden meaning behind the “12 Days of Christmas” song?
Yes, there is a hidden concept behind this song. It is believed that there was a time when Christians were punished. At that time, the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” was launched secretly to support Christianity. According to this theory, each gift on list reflect a different Christian faith.
How much would the 12 Days of Christmas cost?
Do you want to know something else interesting about the song “12 Days of Christmas”? For over 30 years, PNC Bank has used the PNC Christmas Price Index to keep track of how much each gift in the song costs. Current market rates are used to figure out how much each gift would cost the average person today. According to the current Christmas price index, all of those gifts would cost a huge $197,071.09 if you counted each repeat of the song. Swans alone are very expensive at $1,875 each! But the real reason the final number is so shocking is that the gifts add up. With each new gift, you name the previous gift, which brings the total number of gifts to 364.
What are the origins of The 12 Days of Christmas carol?
The real concept of 12 days of Christmas period is from Christmas day to Epiphany day (6th January). This time period is for love, peace, rest, feasting, christmas gifts, gathering and spending quality times with loved ones.
The song was written for the first time in 1780 book, Mirth Without Mischief. It was a game for kids. You have to sing a song until you do mistake. On every mistake, you need to pay with sweet or token. Many historians also believe that the song was first originated in France.
How many alternative versions of the 12 Days of Christmas are there?
There are a lot of ways to make fun of this song. A famous version of the Christmas carol is by the Muppets with John Denver. Another version is by the McKenzie Brothers on SCTV, which uses turtlenecks and beer instead of turtle doves and partridges. There’s also Bob Rivers’s “The 12 Pains of Christmas,” which talks about all the problems of putting together a modern Christmas, like lights that don’t work and batteries that don’t come with the set.
In addition, people in Scotland, France, Sweden, and other places have had their own versions of this Christmas music for hundreds of years. (And to be honest, the French version, with its 12 good cheeses and 11 good hams, sounds pretty tasty!)
