The 12 Days of Christmas is a traditional Christmas carol that originated in England and is usually sung during the festive season. The lyrics describe a series of increasingly grand gifts given by "my true love" to the singer on each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas. It is commonly believed to have its roots in an old English rhyme, and the earliest known printed version dates back to 1780. The song has been performed and recorded by many artists over the years, and it is still popular today.