What are the 12 days of Christmas? The traditional 12 days of Christmas are the days from 25th December to 5th January, being Christmas day to the feast of Epiphany on the 6th January when the three wise men visited Jesus and he was baptised.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
12 Drummers Drumming,
11 Pipers Piping,
10 Lords a Leaping,
9 Ladies Dancing,
8 Maids a Milking,
7 Swans a Swimming,
6 Geese a Laying,
5 Golden Rings,
4 Calling Birds,
3 French Hens,
2 Turtle Doves,
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

If you were to receive all of the gifts stated for each of the 12 days, you would receive a total of 364 gifts - but if you were to get the gifts stated only once you would get 78.

Some religious people believe it is highly significant that my true love has sent a gift for each day of the year, except for one day as the Christ Child is the 365th gift.

The 12 days of Christmas song has been sung since 1780 and is either English or French in origin. Watch an Australian version here (adults only) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOossz3z2Hc Or a family version here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7ba5_DZUAI

A cheeky 'Christmas price index' has been calculated each year by the US PNC Bank by adding up the cost to purchase the goods and services of all the 12 days of Christmas gifts. Note that PNC bank calculates the cost of hiring musicians and dancers (as obviously people cannot be purchased), and the birds are alive so they consult with zoos.

In 1984 the total cost of all goods and services was $US12,623.10

In 2009 the Christmas price index stood at $US21,465.56. Apparently swans dropped in price.

The PNC Bank also calculates the 'True Cost of Christmas' by adding up all 364 gifts as a total.

Watch the video presentation of this year's 2009 Christmas price index here http://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com/CPI/index.html and read the details here. http://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com/CPI/pressRelease.html

Watch this alternative version of 12 days of Christmas on you tube to get your fill of Christmas song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Information for this post came from
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071214103728AApudPL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/36749
http://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com/CPI/historyFAQ.html

To receive Christmas surprises daily - connect to the Fusion Christmas blog via RSS feed, or follow us during our Christmas twitter.