12 More Wild and Wonderful Versions of ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’

It's that time of the year when everywhere you go, you hear songs about Christmas and snow. I almost wrote a song lyric there!

Anyway, yep, it's Christmas music season, and once again I have been set off on a quest to find 12 MORE versions of the Yule classic, "The 12 Days of Christmas." A few years ago, I collected 12 odd and fun versions of the song. I found the Redneck version, the Canadian version, the Muppets version, and even Star Wars. 

Read More: 12 Hilarious And Heartwarming '12 Days Of Christmas' Variations

I don't particularly like the song, but my kids fell in love with it long ago, so over the years I've become a connoisseur of different versions of the "12 Days."

Where Did “The 12 Days of Christmas” Come From?

"The 12 Days of Christmas" is a song from England. The song's origin is unknown, but it seems to have roots in a children's nursery rhyme, like a memorization game. Over the centuries, numerous regional and local cultural differences have emerged. The version we are most familiar with today comes from English composer Frederic Austin in 1909. He took an English folk melody and wrote down the version of the song we know.

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The 12 Gifts of "The 12 Days of Christmas"

The plot, I guess you'd call it, of the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" involves a person telling us about the gifts their true love gave to them over the Christmas season. The gifts involve lots of birds, some drummers, a few ladies from the dairy, and a bit of gold.

• Day 1: A partridge in a pear tree
• Day 2: Two turtle doves
• Day 3: Three French hens
• Day 4: Four calling birds
• Day 5: Five golden rings
• Day 6: Six geese a-laying
• Day 7: Seven swans a-swimming
• Day 8: Eight maids a-milking
• Day 9: Nine ladies dancing
• Day 10: Ten lords a-leaping
• Day 11: Eleven pipers piping
• Day 12: Twelve drummers drumming

There Are So Many Versions of This Song

There has been lots of speculation about what the song means or what the gifts represent. But scholars say that popular rumours about the song are likely wrong. One of the biggest clues is that the song is so old, evolved from various regional versions, and comes down to us from a mixture of old French and English words whose pronunciation and meaning have changed over time. Chances are that the original meanings have been lost to time.

Fresh and Fun “12 Days of Christmas” Variations to Try

It's been a few years since my first list of 12 versions of "The 12 Days of Christmas," so I thought it was time to scour YouTube and find 12 MORE versions of "The 12 Days of Christmas."

1. "12 Days of Spongemas"

I can't believe I'm just now discovering this!

2. "12 Days Of Nickmas Song"

A dose of nostalgia from old-time Nickelodeon.

3. Walt Disney "12 Days of Christmas"

4. "The 12 Days of Christymas" in German

Because, why not?

5. Kidz Bop "The 12 Days of Christmas"

Watch out, it kinda rocks. Kinda.

6. Na Leo - "The Twelve Days of Christmas (Hawaiian Style)"

This is a fantastic version.

7. Gordo Loco "12 Days of Christmas"

I don't know what this is or why it exists, but here you go...

8. The Wiggles - 'The 12 Days of Christmas"

9. Disney Princess "The 12 Days of Christmas"

10. Gucci Mane - "12 Days of Christmas"

Mom! Cover little Billy's ears, this version features all the swear words.

11. Phineas and Ferb - "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

12. Jenny Lorenzo - Abuela's 12 Days of Christmas

This is my favourite find this year. Jenny Lorenzo is a very funny comedian, and her version of "12 Days" is a new classic in my house. Wonderfully specific and fun.