Whether you love belting it out at parties or quietly wonder why anyone needs quite so many birds, this familiar carol has a surprisingly rich and sometimes mysterious history.
Here’s a look at where the song came from, how it evolved, and why it remains a beloved staple of the festive season.
Where the Song Began: A Medieval Memory Game
The earliest known printed version of The Twelve Days of Christmas dates to 1780, when it appeared in a children’s book called Mirth Without Mischief. However, the song itself is likely to be much older.
Many historians believe it began life as a medieval “memory-and-forfeit” game, sung at gatherings during the festive season.
One person would sing the first verse, the next would repeat it and add another, and so on. Get a verse wrong? That’s where the “forfeit” part came in, perhaps a joke, a dance, or even a harmless dare.
This explains the rhythmic structure and cumulative pattern: it was designed to be fun, lively, and just challenging enough after a few Christmas drinks.
Why Twelve Days? A Real Festive Season
The “twelve days” themselves are not invented for the song. Traditionally, the Christmas season in the Christian calendar runs from 25 December to 5 January, ending with Twelfth Night.
During this period, households would enjoy feasting, visiting, games, songs, theatre, and general merriment – making it the perfect backdrop for a playful counting carol.
Those Peculiar Gifts: Symbolism or Just Silliness?
Over the years, there have been claims that the song contains hidden religious meanings – for example, that the partridge represents Christ, the two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments, and so on.
However, there’s no reliable historical evidence to support this theory. Scholars generally agree that the gifts are nonsensical, humorous, and intentionally extravagant, very much in the spirit of festive entertainment.
The large number of birds in the early verses reflects the popularity of game, poultry, and exotic fowl in wealthy households’ feasts during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The French Connection
Some elements of the song suggest it may have originally come from France. The structure is similar to French “chant de quête” (quest songs), and early versions contain French-influenced phrasing.
Even the “five gold rings” may originally have referred to ring-necked pheasants rather than jewellery, so continuing the song’s avian theme.
How the Song Evolved Over Time
The version we know today isn’t exactly as it appeared in earlier centuries. Across Britain and Ireland, various regional versions existed with different gifts – including:
Bears, badgers, and bulls
Ships sailing
Bells ringing
Assorted dancing animals
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the familiar melody and wording were standardised, largely thanks to the famous English composer Frederic Austin, who in 1909 adapted the song to include the dramatic extended “five go-old rings” we all love to emphasise.
A Song That Keeps Giving
Today, The Twelve Days of Christmas inspires everything from school performances and pub quizzes to parodies, pantomimes, and even charity fundraising campaigns.
Its charm lies in its playful spirit, its rising sense of chaos, and the shared laughter it brings when the tempo speeds up and someone forgets the “seven swans a-swimming”.
More than a simple carol, it’s a reminder of a time when Christmas meant games, gatherings, and gleeful silliness – a celebration of joy that still resonates centuries later.
The 12 Gifts of Christmas
1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree
2. Two Turtle Doves
3. Three French Hens
4. Four Calling Birds
5. Five Gold Rings
6. Six Geese a-Laying
7. Seven Swans a-Swimming
8. Eight Maids a-Milking
9. Nine Ladies Dancing
10. Ten Lords a-Leaping
11. Eleven Pipers Piping
12. Twelve Drummers Drumming
And here is a video recording of The Choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle (James Vivian) performing The Twelve Days of Christmas:-
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