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12 Gifts for the Twelve Days of Christmas — Based on the Song
Celebrate your true love this Christmas with fewer birds and more chocolate.
Nov 15, 2024
It's hard not to get the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" stuck in your head. But after happily belting "five gold rings" like we're Pavarotti, does anyone really remember what comes after that? Somehow it turns into abstract interpretations, with six slimy socks, seven dogs digging, and eight monkeys grooming (those are the words, right?). Then, as soon as we reach number five, people run in from other rooms to join in. You might want to study the lyrics before caroling around the neighborhood this year.
The story behind the "Twelve Days of Christmas"
The earliest version of this Christmas carol appeared in a British children's book called Mirth With-out Mischief in 1780. Some theories point to the song having French origins. However, most historians agree that the song was originally created as a memory-and-forfeits-game, in which singers tested their ability to recite the lyrics perfectly and had to give their opponents a forfeit — a favor of some kind — if they made a mistake. The song we know today didn't appear until 1909, when it was arranged by English composer Frederic Austin.
While it may seem like a fun idea to gift someone the 12 days of Christmas, it's also incredibly expensive. According to the Christmas Price Index, it would have cost you over $45,000! And who really needs 12 drummers drumming...
Instead, we've compiled a list of Christmas gifts for each day in the song that won't break the bank — and won't turn your house into a home for a marching band.
For delivery before Christmas, order by:
Dec. 19 for standard shipping (4-7 business days)
Dec. 20 for express shipping (2 business days)
Dec. 23 for overnight shipping (1 business day)
For more information about shipping, click here.
For more holiday gifting inspiration, check out our other gift guides
AUTHOR
Autumn Micketti is the Assistant Manager of SEO & Content for 1-800-Flowers. Her love of music has found her writing articles for SPIN, The Siskiyou, and The Verse, and interviewing small and large artists like Mumford & Sons, Maroon 5, and The Weepies. When she's not writing about love songs or Oregold® Peaches, you can find her exploring mountains, listening to the latest album release of her current musical obsession, DJing local events, or spending time with her extended family.
