who wrote the 12 days of christmas song

The 12 Days of Christmas is a traditional English Christmas carol, so it's difficult to say who specifically wrote it. It is believed to have originated in the 18th century and was first published in a book called "Mirth without Mischief" in 1780. It is thought to be a parody of English aristocratic society, with the gifts representing different symbols of wealth and privilege. However, the exact author of the song is unknown.