are the 12 days of christmas before or after

The 12 days of Christmas are traditionally the 12 days following Christmas Day, ending with Epiphany on January 6th. These days were historically a period of festive celebration and gift-giving in many cultures, including the Christian tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas. In modern times, the 12 days of Christmas have become synonymous with the holiday season as a whole, including both the period leading up to Christmas Day and the period after.