who wrote the song the twelve days of christmas

The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is believed to have been written in England during the 18th century. Its author is unknown, but it is thought to be a traditional English Christmas carol that was later popularized in the United States. The song was likely written to celebrate the festive period and the joy of giving gifts and spending time with loved ones. The lyrics tell the story of a person receiving a series of increasingly extravagant gifts, one for each of the twelve days of Christmas.