12 Days of Christmas Recipes (2024)

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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!

12 Days of Christmas Recipes (1)

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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.

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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 asAdvent, which begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on December 24.

  1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree (December 25)
  2. Two Turtle Doves (December 26)
  3. Three French Hens (December 27)
  4. Four Calling Birds (December 28)
  5. Five Golden Rings (December 29)
  6. Six Geese a Laying (December 30)
  7. Seven Swans a Swimming (December 31) New Year’s Eve
  8. Eight Maids a Milking (January 1) New Year’s Day
  9. Nine Ladies Dancing (January 2)
  10. Ten Lords-a-Leaping (January 3)
  11. Eleven Pipers Piping (January 4)
  12. 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 calledMirth With-out Mischief. (A first edition of that book sold for $23,750 at aSotheby’s auctionin 2014, but you can also buy a digital copy onAmazon.) 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

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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!

2

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Day 2: Two Turtle Doves

Photo Credit:www.thespruceeats.com

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 familiarchocolate treat."

3

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Day 3: Three French Hens

Photo Credit:damndelicious.net

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."

4

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Day 4: Four Calling Birds

Photo Credit:www.onekingslane.com

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!

5

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Day 5: Five Golden Rings

Photo Credit:slimfast.com

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."

6

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Day 6: Six Geese a Laying

Photo Credit:www.womansday.com

Deviled Eggs: "Smoked paprika, bacon, and fresh green herbs give the traditional deviled egg a delectable new complexity."

7

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Day 7: Seven Swans a Swimming

Photo Credit:www.barbarabakes.com

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. "

8

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Day 8: Eight Maids a Milking

Photo Credit:www.superhealthykids.com

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!

9

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Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing

Photo Credit:bakingamoment.com

These homemade Ladyfingers serve beautifully for the ninth day of Christmas. With a cup of tea, of course!

10

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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!

11

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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.

12

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Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming

Photo Credit:www.womansday.com

These Mini Drum Cakes can also serve as Twelfth Night Cakes, a popular holiday concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What do you eat on each of the 12 days of Christmas? ›

of Christmas it brings good luck for the year ahead. According to tradition, you must also make a wish.

What is a 12 days of Christmas party? ›

The original twelve days of Christmas were a series of religious feast days celebrated as part of the Roman Catholic religion in medieval and Tudor England. Starting on Christmas Day, there were 12 days of religious celebrations, feasting and entertainments that lasted all the way up to 5 January.

What are Christmas Day traditional foods? ›

Every family in every part of the world serves their own traditional Christmas foods, but in the U.S., some are enjoyed nationwide:
  • Turkey.
  • Prime Rib.
  • Baked Ham.
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
  • Stuffing.
  • Green Bean Casserole.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes.
  • Roasted Vegetables.
Dec 19, 2022

What is each item in the 12 days of Christmas? ›

Typically at the end of the 12 days, you would have received 12 partridges in pear trees, 22 turtle doves, 30 French hens, 36 calling birds, 40 gold rings, 42 geese laying eggs, 42 swans, 40 milking maids, 36 dancing ladies, 30 leaping lords, 22 piping pipers and 12 drumming drummers from your true love, but with the ...

What is the tradition of 12 days of Christmas? ›

What are the 12 days of Christmas? The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology 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).

What is the 12 course Christmas dinner? ›

A twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper is traditionally prepared to commemorate Jesus' twelve disciples in Central, Northern and Eastern European cultures, especially those that were formerly part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and neighbouring countries.

What is the most eaten meat on Christmas? ›

Top 5 Traditional Meats For Christmas Dinner
  1. Turkey. Let's admit it, a whole turkey is the best and most traditional meat for Christmas dinners. ...
  2. Beef. Beef often comes to mind when choosing Christmas meats and for good reason. ...
  3. Ham and Gammon. What's Christmas without a joint of ham? ...
  4. Pork. ...
  5. Lamb.

What are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods? ›

Top 10 most popular Christmas recipes
  • Nut roast.
  • Ultimate roast potatoes. ...
  • Mary's Berry Christmas chutney. ...
  • Sausage, sage & onion stuffing. ...
  • Cola ham with maple & mustard glaze. ...
  • Sticky spiced red cabbage. ...
  • Christmas pudding with citrus and spice. ...
  • Yule log. ...

What do you do on 12 days of Christmas? ›

Christians who celebrate the Twelve Days may give gifts on each of them, with each of the Twelve Days representing a wish for a corresponding month of the new year. They may feast on traditional foods and otherwise celebrate the entire time through the morning of the Solemnity of Epiphany.

How to do a 12 days of Christmas campaign? ›

What is the 12 Days of Christmas marketing strategy? A 12 Days of Christmas marketing strategy is a marketing campaign where you reveal a new deal or piece of content every day for 12 days. Businesses use this strategy to engage their target audience, drive sales, and build brand awareness during the holiday season.

How many gifts were given in the 12 days of Christmas? ›

Not much of the song makes sense in the modern age, but knowing the rich history behind the elaborate song (which ends up totaling 364 gifts, by the way) puts the seemingly odd lyrics in context. Let's dive in!

What do most Americans eat on Christmas Eve? ›

Roast turkey and ham are popular for Christmas dinner throughout the country, but depending on the region, so are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast pork or “seven fishes” seafood salad.

What is the most common food eaten at Christmas? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What is a Mexican Christmas dinner? ›

Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale making tradition, warm up with pozole this winter, and enjoy enchiladas everyone will love.

How are the 12 days of Christmas counted? ›

The Twelve Days are 25 December to 5 January, counting first and last. The Octave, or Eighth Day, is New Year's Day and the Feast of the Circumcision, the day Jesus was circumcised according to the faith. The evening of the last day is Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve, the next morning being Epiphany.

What should be eaten throughout the 12 days of Christmas to ensure good luck in the year ahead? ›

According to tradition, you should eat one mince pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas to bring good luck. It's technically illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day in England. In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas pudding, mince pies and anything to do with gluttony.

What is the meaning of the 12 days of Christmas items? ›

The Partridge in the Pear Tree is Jesus Christ. The 2 Turtle Doves are The Old and New Testaments. The 3 French hens are Faith, Hope and Charity, the theological virtues. The 4 Calling Birds are the four gospels and/or the four evangelists. The 5 Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testament.

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