12 Days of Christmas Recipes
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This year, let’s celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with 12 Days of Christmas Recipes. One for each day, corresponding to the Christmas classic song. You will find ideas for recipes from sweet treats to savory goodies. Most of these Christmas foods are easy to make, and all are festive and fun!
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The 12 Days of Christmas
Though best known as a classic song dating to the 1700s, the Twelve Days of Christmas is an observance beginning on December 25 and leading up to January 6, the day before Epiphany.
It’s a span of days between the birth of Jesus and the coming of the Magi.
12 Days of Christmas Lyrics
Here are the 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics to refresh your memory of this classic Christmas song:
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 2 Turtle Doves
On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 3 French Hens
On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 4 Calling Birds
On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 5 Golden Rings
On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 6 Geese a Laying
On the seventh day of Cristmas
my true love sent to me: 7 Swans a Swimming
On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 8 Maids a Milking
On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 9 Ladies Dancing
On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 10 Lords a Leaping
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 11 Pipers Piping
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me: 12 Drummers Drumming
Listen to Bing Crosby and the 12 Days of Christmas
When Does the 12 Days of Christmas Start?
The 12 days of Christmas is the set of days that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi, the three wise men. It begins on December 25 (Christmas) and runs through January 6 (the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings’ Day).
The four weeks preceding Christmas are known as Advent, which begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on December 24.
- A Partridge in a Pear Tree (December 25)
- Two Turtle Doves (December 26)
- Three French Hens (December 27)
- Four Calling Birds (December 28)
- Five Golden Rings (December 29)
- Six Geese a Laying (December 30)
- Seven Swans a Swimming (December 31) New Year’s Eve
- Eight Maids a Milking (January 1) New Year’s Day
- Nine Ladies Dancing (January 2)
- Ten Lords-a-Leaping (January 3)
- Eleven Pipers Piping (January 4)
- Twelve Drummers Drumming (January 5)
What are the origins of the 12 Days of Christmas?
The history of the carol is somewhat murky. The earliest known version first appeared in a 1780 children’s book called Mirth With-out Mischief. (A first edition of that book sold for $23,750 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2014, but you can also buy a digital copy on Amazon.) Some historians think the song could be French in origin, but most agree it was designed as a “memory and forfeits” game, in which singers tested their recall of the lyrics and had to award their opponents a “forfeit” — a kiss or a favor of some kind — if they made a mistake.
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with Food
There are so many ways to commomeorate this set of days during the holiday season. Here are some ideas to add fun and festivity to the days following Christmas:
12 Days of Christmas Recipes
Day 1: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
These Baked Pears are EASY and delicious with 4 simple ingredients. Drizzled in honey, warmed with spiced cinnamon and crunchy with granola. A go-to desserts without the guilt!
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves
These easy classic holiday treats are perfect for Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas. "Surprisingly easy to make at home, they just need three common ingredients to recreate the familiar chocolate treat."
Day 3: Three French Hens
This "French Hens" recipe is a delicious take for the third day of Christmas. This French Chicken Casserole is "the coziest, most wholesome meal. With golden brown chicken, tender potatoes, white wine, fresh rosemary + thyme."
Day 4: Four Calling Birds
I had to look it up -- calling birds. Research shows that "calling birds" were most likely "blackbirds" or crows. This stumped me until I remember the renowned "Four & Twenty Blackbirds" pie bakery in Brooklyn. I came across their recipe for an Apple Pie Recipe of Our Dreams. That seems a better adaptation for Day 4!
Day 5: Five Golden Rings
A healthier version of a favorite treat. "Sometimes you just want some onion rings. With this crunchy and savory recipe, we’ve got your cravings covered. You can throw together these deliciously crispy onion rings and be on your way to tempura paradise in under 30 minutes."
Day 6: Six Geese a Laying
Deviled Eggs: "Smoked paprika, bacon, and fresh green herbs give the traditional deviled egg a delectable new complexity."
Day 7: Seven Swans a Swimming
It's New Year's Eve, consider this beautiful treat: Cream Puff Swans. "Golden cream puff swans filled with rich, delicious pastry cream are a must-try baking project for kids and adults. "
Day 8: Eight Maids a Milking
This Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe, using of course milk, is a sweet, rich, and creamy banana pudding recipe that's light on added sugars and big on fresh banana flavor!
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing
These homemade Ladyfingers serve beautifully for the ninth day of Christmas. With a cup of tea, of course!
Day 10: Ten Lords-a-Leaping
This easy, homemade Sweet and Spicy Coconut Curry Popcorn literally "leaps" off the pan and is a delicious sweet and savory treat!
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Pipping
If you're wondering how these Double Chocolate Baked Donuts qualifies for the eleventh day, it's simply that I "pipe" the batter into an easy donut mold. Although, you can spoon it too. But they're yummy, and kind of perfect as the twelve days of Christmas comes to a close.
Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming
These Mini Drum Cakes can also serve as Twelfth Night Cakes, a popular holiday concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Love it!!! Yummy😋
Done Good!
Thank you, Maxine!