Most of us know the 12 Days of Christmas as a popular song about a true love, turtle doves, 5 golden rings, and 8 maids a milking, among other things. However, the 12 days of Christmas are actually a religious holiday that starts on the evening of Christmas day, and ends the morning of January 6th, the day of Epiphany. The traditions and origins of the 12 days of Christmas are old, and are more than the lyrics to a popular children’s song.

The 12 days of Christmas can be traced to at least the Middle Ages, when the 12 days were mainly days for feasting that reached a crescendo on the twelfth night, made popular by William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. There is evidence that Colonial Americans brought the traditions of the 12 days with them. It as at this time that the tradition of weaving wreaths to hang on the door throughout the 12 days of Christmas became popular.

In modern America, the 12 days of Christmas have become a children’s song. Many argue this is due to the advent of Santa Claus, the acceptance of Christmas Eve as a holiday, and the increasing popularity of New Years Eve parties. However, those modern Americans that do celebrate are often religious and use their church to guide their celebrations. Some people give one gift for each of the 12 days of Christmass, some light a candle each day, and some even burn a Yule log a little each day.

Throughout the world, the 12 days of Christmas are celebrated in various ways. In England or other common wealth countries the 12 days are kicked off with Boxing Day, which begins on Christmas. They follow various aspects of the traditions found in the Twelfth Night by Shakespeare, and A Christmas Carol by Dickens. Roman Catholics celebrate by feasting and culminate their holiday on Epiphany with the largest feast. In Latin America, the twelfth day is the most important as it kicks off the Carnival season which end on Mardi Gras.

So there is certainly more to the 12 days of Christmas than most people know. The traditions of the 12 days are old and often religious. Yet the song’s meaning of each day has a rich and varied heritage.

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