what is the 12 days of christmas

The "12 Days of Christmas" is a popular Christmas song and holiday tradition. It originated in England in the 18th century and consists of a series of 12 verses, each describing a different gift given to the singer by their true love. The gifts include partridges in pear trees, turtle doves, French hens, calling birds, golden rings, geese, swans, maids a milking, ladies dancing, lords a leaping, pipers piping, and drummers drumming. The song is often used as a countdown to Christmas, with each verse representing a day leading up to December