Originally published in 1780, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a classic English carol that has become a staple of the Christmas season. The version we know today was popularized by Frederic Austin in 1909, who arranged it as a cumulative song that lists gifts given to the speaker by their “true love” over the 12 days of Christmas, which begin on December 25.
The carol has sparked various interpretations over the years, and while its true origins remain unknown, it’s often seen as a festive memory game or simply a playful list of increasingly extravagant gifts.
Below is a section-by-section interpretation of the lyrics in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
- Song: The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Songwriters: Traditional, Frederic Austin
- Released: 1780
- Genre: Christmas carol, Nursery rhyme
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” Meaning: Line by Line
Verse 1: The First Day – Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
The first of many birds!
The partridge is probably just a bird from the “true love,” but it can symbolize attraction.
The “pear tree” might be a mishearing of the French word for partridge, perdrix, so the bird might’ve actually been the sole gift. It is funny to imagine a bird and a tree randomly showing up at someone’s front door, though.
Verse 2: The Second Day – French Hens
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two c…
Turtle doves are commonly seen as symbols of peace and love.
Receiving two of them implies the gifter wishes for a peaceful, loving partnership. Or they’re just hoping for finds peace and love during the holiday season.
Verse 3: The Third Day – French Hens
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Three French hens…
More birds!
French hens could represent luxury or beauty, as French culture has long been associated with refinement.
Verse 4: The Fourth Day – Calling Birds
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Four calling birds…
Even more birds!
The four calling birds are generally accepted to mean four blackbirds. The word “colly,” which appeared in early versions, is an older English word for black.
The presence of four singing birds adds further life, sound, and perhaps even chaos to the growing collection of gifts.
Verse 5: The Fifth Day – Golden Rings
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Five golden rings…
Gold is traditionally associated with wealth and value. The rings might symbolize the importance of material wealth.
Either way, the receiver got some nice jewelry!
Verse 6: The Sixth Day – Geese
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying…
Six more birds!
Geese, known for their migratory habits, could symbolize travel or transition.
The image of geese “laying” suggests fertility and new life, reinforcing the idea of growth and the nurturing of life, perhaps referencing the cycle of seasons and/or personal growth.
Verse 7: The Seventh Day – Swans
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming…
And… seven more birds!
Swans are elegant and graceful, often symbolizing beauty, purity, and transformation.
The seven swans could represent the seven virtues or be another symbol of beauty. Either way, the receiver now has many birds.
Verse 8: The Eighth Day – Maids
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking…
Maids milking cows could symbolize work, nourishment, and nurturing.
They could represent the hard work required to sustain life. Or they’re just there to help out.
Verse 9: The Ninth Day – Ladies
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing…
Dancing is often a symbol of joy, freedom, and celebration.
The nine ladies could represent the joy of life and the spirit of celebration, inviting others to join in the happiness of the season.
Verse 10: The 10th Day – Lords
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping…
Lords are typically symbols of power, and their “leaping” might mean that they are having fun at the now-crowded party. Maybe they’re playing games?
Honestly, this one trips me up, and this is the best interpretation I can come up with.
Verse 11: The 11th Day – Pipers
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping…
Pipers are associated with music, tradition, and celebration.
This could be a nod to the importance of cultural rituals, the joy of music, or the ongoing festivities that mark the twelve days of Christmas.
Verse 12: The 12 Day – Drummers
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming…
Drummers create rhythm and excitement, and twelve drummers drumming signals the peak of the celebration.
This might symbolize the culmination of the Christmas season, building energy and excitement to a grand finish.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” Meaning: The Joy of Excessive Giving
While “The Twelve Days of Christmas” can be seen as a fun and whimsical holiday song, there are some deeper meanings that might be interpreted from the sequence of gifts. The gifts progress from peaceful and symbolic to more extravagant and celebratory, which could represent abundance, joy, and the celebration of life’s different aspects, like love, wealth, work, and beauty.
All of the gifts could be (and have been) linked to religious or cultural symbolism, with some referencing Christian imagery or the seasons of the year. However, the true meaning remains speculative, and much of the song’s charm comes from everyone just singing along and trying to remember the growing list of extravagant gifts.
Songs Like “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
1. “Jingle Bells”
A lively and well-known holiday classic, “Jingle Bells” captures the joy and excitement of the holiday season. Its upbeat tune and cheerful lyrics make it a staple in Christmas celebrations.
2. “Deck the Halls”
A festive carol full of joy and holiday spirit, “Deck the Halls” is all about decorating for the season. It shares the same celebratory mood, with a focus on tradition.
3. “Green Grow the Rushes, O”
This traditional English folk song is another example of a cumulative song, featuring a similar structure to “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” It lists a series of cryptic religious or astronomical symbols, starting with one and accumulating up to twelve.
Conclusion: A Whimsical Take on Christmas Giving
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” takes the act of gift-giving to a significant other and turns it into a monumental, memorable event where the gifts quickly become an unmanageable (and hilarious) collection of livestock, luxury goods, and people. To me, it’s less a commentary on any serious topic and more of a grand, playful exaggeration of holiday generosity.
Regardless of whether it’s seen as a memory game, a religious song, or just a playful tune, I think most people can agree that it is a pretty great Christmas carol.
You can listen to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” on Spotify and Amazon.
Check out our Best Christmas Songs list!
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” FAQs
When do the 12 Days of Christmas actually start?
The 12 Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25th, and conclude on January 5th. This period traditionally marks the full Christmas season in Western Christianity.
How many gifts are given in total by the end of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?
The true love gives a total of 364 gifts throughout the entire song. This number is reached because each gift item is repeated and added to the previous day’s tally, from the one partridge to the twelve drummers.
Is “The Twelve Days of Christmas” actually a secret way to teach the Catholic faith?
No, while this theory is popular, historians and fact-checking sites conclude there is no evidence to support the idea that the lyrics were a secret code for teaching religious lessons. The song is most likely an old children’s memory game.
Who is the “true love” in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?
The “true love” is simply the person giving the extravagant presents. The identity is not specified, but the term implies a committed and generous partner whose wealth allows for such an overwhelming display of affection.
What is the meaning of the “five golden rings” gift?
The five golden rings are probably jewelry, representing a traditional, valuable gift. They might refer to the ringed pheasant or other birds, but chances are they’re actual rings.
Why does “The Twelve Days of Christmas” list so many birds?
Birds dominate the first seven days of gifts, which may simply be due to the song’s origins as an old counting or folk rhyme. They represent a variety of gifts, from the possibly symbolic (doves, swans) to the practical (hens, geese), and they were relatively common property in earlier times.
