A popular Christmas party game is the singing of Christmas carols. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is one of the most popular carols and is sure to be included in any party sing-along. Usually the lyrics become a series of jumbles and giggles as singers struggle to remember each of the twelve gifts that were delivered by the true love as the song's lyrics reveal.

Like many Christmas carols, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English carol which lists a series of extravagant gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Each verse build on the next which means that each verse is repeated over and over throughout the song. It is sung and recorded throughout America and Europe during the holiday season. The date the song was first performed is not known but it is believed to be from Europe in the 16th century. The modern arrangement includes the melody of the lyrics "five gold rings" which was written in the 20th century by Frederick Austin. This is the version sung today and "five gold rings" (or some sing "five golden rings") is undoubtedly the words most singers remember.

The "Twelve Days of Christmas" is also a children's rhyme published in a book called Mirth without Mischief in London around 1780. Years later the rhyme was adopted as a song that was enjoyed by the whole family having fun singing on the twelfth night before Christmas.

There are those who believe that the song lyrics reference hidden spiritual meanings. They claim that the items in the song, concern concepts of Christian faith which was devised as a memory game for children during a time that Christian religion was suppressed. Though the claim of hidden meanings has not been fully proven by any reliable sources. This is the list the assumed hidden meanings:

1 Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch" which contain the law condemning us of our sins.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

The Christmas gifts recited in the song are grandiose and extravagant and nearly impossible to deliver. The cumulative cost alone would make the delivery of all twelve Christmas gifts an impossible endeavor. Just how much would all the twelve gifts cost? For the fun of it, lets take a look:

One Partridge in a Pear Tree - the tree is $130.00, the partridge is $15.00. Total $145.00
Two Turtle Doves - $40.00
Three French Hens - $45.00
Four Calling Birds - $440.00
Five Gold Rings - $325.00
Six Geese a-Laying - $400.00
Seven Swans a-swimming - $4000.00
Eight Maids a-Milking - $520.00
Nine Ladies Dancing - $4550.00
Ten Lords a-Leaping - $5000.00
Eleven Pipers Piping - $2500.00
Twelve Drummers Drumming - $2500.00

Total of the Twelve Days of Christmas