The Origins of Christmas Legends and Traditions We Didn’t Know

While the famous “12 Days of Christmas” song is often heard during the festive period leading up to December 25, the actual Christian celebration it represents runs from Christmas Day to January 6, marking the period from Jesus’s birth to the Magi’s visit. The song, evolving from a poem, first appeared in the 1780 children’s book “Mirth With-out Mischief.”

Its popular version today is attributed to English composer Frederic Austin. The PNC Christmas Price Index annually calculates the cost of the gifts mentioned in the song. For 2023, acquiring everything from the partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming would set you back a substantial $46,729.86, reflecting the song’s whimsical extravagance in today’s market.