The Twelve Days of Christmas is a traditional English Christmas carol that dates back to the 18th century. It is based on an old French Christmas song that tells the story of a young girl who is given twelve gifts over twelve days by her true love. The gifts are symbolic of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are the days between Christmas and Epiphany. The carol became popular in England in the late 19th century, and it is now sung around the world during the holiday season.