The 12 Days of Christmas is a Christmas carol that originated in England in the 18th century. It is believed to be a song of memory and anticipation, describing the gifts that the singer receives over the course of the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The song has been performed and recorded by many different artists over the years, including Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, and Michael Buble. The song is commonly used as a countdown to Christmas, with each verse adding a new gift until the final verse, which celebrates the arrival of Christmas Day.