who wrote 12 days of christmas

The 12 days of Christmas is a popular Christmas carol that originated in England in the 18th century. The lyrics are believed to have been written by the English clergyman, John Francis Wade. Wade wrote the lyrics in the 1700s as a teaching tool for English Catholics to learn their catechism. The melody of the song was added later, and it was first published in a children's book in 1853. Since then, the song has become a Christmas classic, and it is now one of the most recognizable and beloved Christmas songs in the world.