12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas for 2023

Jill Gleeson
garland of 12 colorful hearts, front heart in focus reading and a patridge in a pear tree and the second which is only partially seen reads two turtle doves
The Best Gift Ideas for the 12 Days of ChristmasAnita Waters - Getty Images


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Is there anyone who doesn't know the classic carol The 12 Days of Christmas? Well, probably, but if so we sure haven't met 'em, which is one reason why giving 12 Days of Christmas gifts is such a wonderful idea. With its laundry list of absurd and amazing Yuletide offerings, the holiday earworm reemerges around Thanksgiving every year, taking over radio station and retail store playlists until after Santa has made his rounds. Because the tune is as synonymous with Christmas as gingerbread houses, Hallmark movies and matching pajamas for all (not to mention cards that never quite get sent out on time), it makes a great theme for gift exchanges. Or, you can always give all 12 presents to one lucky adult or kid!

Granted, you're not going to want to hand someone a wrapped box with three French hens stuffed in it, or jam 10 lords a-leaping under their tree. Instead, use the lyrics as inspiration, as we did with each of the 12 Days of Christmas gifts you'll find below. Some are homemade, others make ideal stocking stuffers, and a few are bigger ticket items sure to make their Christmas morning. Then, after you've gotten your list together, check out Here's What to Know About the '12 Days of Christmas' Meaning to get the full story behind the song.

A Patridge in a Pear Tree

Is there anyone who doesn't know the classic carol "The 12 Days of Christmas"? Well, probably, but if so we sure haven't met 'em, which is one reason why giving 12 Days of Christmas gifts is such a wonderful idea. With its laundry list of absurd and amazing Yuletide offerings, the holiday earworm reemerges around Thanksgiving every year, taking over radio station and retail store playlists until well after Santa has made his rounds. Because the tune is as synonymous with Christmas as gingerbread houses, Hallmark movies, and matching pajamas for all (not to mention cards that never quite get sent out on time), it makes a great theme for gift exchanges. Or, you can always give all 12 presents to one lucky adult or kid!

Granted, you're not going to want to hand someone a wrapped box with three French hens stuffed in it, or jam 10 lords a-leaping under their tree. Instead, use the lyrics as inspiration, as we did with each of the 12 Days of Christmas gifts you'll find below. Some, like a meal of delicious coq au vin, are homemade, others make ideal stocking stuffers (swan socks, anyone?), and a few are bigger ticket items sure to make their Christmas morning, including the goose down comforter. Then, after you've gotten your list together, check out Here's What to Know About the '12 Days of Christmas' Meaning to get the full story behind the song.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Half of the dozen presents described in "The 12 Days of Christmas" mention our fine feathered friends, but the very first one on the list also includes some greenery to go with that fowl. As long as your recipient lives in the proper hardiness zone, a pear tree would make a gorgeous gift that will keep on giving, year after year. Some varieties bear fruit, some don't, but all produce gorgeous white blossoms come springtime. If you want to really nail the whole thing, hang a partridge ornament on the tree.

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ripe pear on a tree with blurry background
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Two Turtle Doves

Americans may love "The 12 Days of Christmas" as much as our friends across the pond, but the song is actually believed to be French in origin, with the earliest known written version appearing in an English children's book way back in 1780. The closest thing we have to the (European) turtle dove here in the U.S. is the mourning dove, a cooing cutie that mates for life.

For a gift celebrating the avian critters in the second verse of "The 12 Days of Christmas," you might want to consider a good ground-level bird feeder. Mourning doves typically prefer foraging on terra firma for goodies like sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet and oats (you can also add in a bag of food made especially for doves).

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a pair of mourning doves sitting on a surface, one looking toward camera with ferns in the background
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Three French Hens

Okay, so you're probably not going to opt for a trip to Paris when giving a gift themed around the "three French hens" verse. But a delicious homemade meal of the classic Gallic chicken stew coq au vin served with a good bottle of French wine sure makes for a winning substitute, doesn't it? Give them a pretty hen card with an invitation to this very special dinner to open on Christmas morning, and they're sure to say "Ooh la la!"

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overhead view of pot of homemade french coq au vin chicken with veggies and sauce on white cloth with sprigs of herbs and a wooden spoon
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Four Calling Birds

Back in the day, the fourth verse of "The 12 Days of Christmas" actually referred to "four colly birds." In Old English, colly meant "black as coal," so that line probably alluded to a gift of four blackbirds. In 1909, when composer Frederic Austin set the poem to music and turned it into a song, he changed the wording to what we know and love today.

You could always seek inspiration for your gift from the verse as it was originally written, but with birds mentioned so often in "The 12 Days of Christmas," we recommend going with a tech-savvy "calling" theme. A handy wireless charging pad for multiple devices would make a useful present, or choose an adorbs cell phone holder, perfect for kids or teens.

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smiling american african woman talking on a smart phone on a blue background
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Five Golden Rings

You don't have to spend a bundle on every gift you pick out with "The 12 Days of Christmas" motif (or any of them, for that matter). And who doesn't love doughnuts anyway??! If you'd like to forgo bestowing five golden rings, either whip up your own batch of the tasty fried treats or purchase them from your favorite purveyor. Doughnuts on Christmas morning? We're here for it!

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five doughnuts on a square white plate with multi colored icing and nuts or spinkles
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Six Geese a-Laying

You've got some incredible options if you want to go big or go home with the "six geese a-laying" gift—for example, a pair of sneakers from primo luxury brand Golden Goose. Or, take it down a notch and get them something that'll put a smile on their face every time they climb into bed: a super soft goose down comforter (or pillow). It'll keep them comfy and cozy all through the snowy season!

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happy woman smiling in bed with white comforter, sheets and a big fluffy pillow high angle view
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Seven Swans a-Swimming

While the seven swans a-swimming line may not immediately bring to mind a wide range of dazzling ideas for Christmas presents, there are actually a few nifty ones from which to choose. If any ballet company within driving distance is presenting Swan Lake in the next year, snatch up a couple of those tickets and tuck them into a pretty swan greeting card. For kids, you can purchase a copy of the beautifully illustrated Swan Lake children's book, which sets the classic story back within a fairy tale framework.

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classical ballerina in white tutu and headdress in a graceful position with arms back and one upward and head pointed down
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Eight Maids a-Milking

Although you could go with goodies referencing cows or milk for the eighth verse of "The 12 Days of Christmas," you're pretty much guaranteed a grateful grin if they receive a gift certificate to a service like Maid Brigade or Merry Maids. Wouldn't you like to take some time off from house cleaning? We sure would.

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close up of a woman holding a basket containing colorful cleaning materials like squeeze rigger bottles, a brush and a sponge
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Nine Ladies Dancing

With a lyric like "nine ladies dancing," this present has got to be all about shaking a tail feather. Encourage your gift recipient to get moving with a smart-sounding Bluetooth speaker that's waterproof. That way, they can blast it in the bathroom while they're showering or take it to the beach or pool when warm weather eventually returns. Or, if you want to go the experiential route, sign 'em up for dance lessons at a local studio.

More suggestions:

  • A musical ballerina jewelry box for girls

  • A "It's a Good Day to Dance" coffee mug

  • Reproduction of Degas' "Little Dancer of Fourteen Years" sculpture

  • A handmade "Life is Better When You Dance" soy candle

  • A tote bag with a funky, throwback image of a hula dancer

three cheerful young women dancing on bed in modern bedroom with their arms in the air
Klaus Vedfelt - Getty Images

Ten Lords a-Leaping

To honor the tenth verse of "The 12 Days of Christmas," give them a gift they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives: the title of Lord (or Lady). Thanks to the company Scottish Titles, you can purchase anywhere from one square foot to 50 square feet of land in Scotland's majestic Blairadam Forest. The land ownership confers the official title of Lord or Lady and also comes with a certificate of land ownership, a Scottish nobility handbook, a heritage map with visitor information and directions to the "estate" and much more.

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ancient castle amid rolling, treeless scottish hills with clouds and mist with a small lake reflecting sky in front of it
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Eleven Pipers Piping

We suppose you could always hire a bagpiper to serenade the person you're buying for, but instead you might want to use a little creative license and snag a set of metal pipe wind chimes. One of the nice things about wind chimes is that they come in a wide range of price points, from super spendy to relatively cheap. You might want to pop for a mid-range set, crafted with professional-grade tuning for really superb sound. After all, according to PNC Bank's Christmas Price Index, you'd actually be spending a whopping $3,021.40 for 11 pipers piping, so you're actually saving a bundle by going with the chimes, right?

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windchimes hanging in front of the rising sun which is starting to light the bare trees and ground in the background
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12 Drummers Drumming

For the last day of Christmas, we thought it would be nice to finish up with another homemade treat—and what better than gourmet popcorn, the classic holiday-time favorite? Just stuff a festive tin drum with yummy, sweet-and-savory peppermint popcorn, made with white chocolate, crushed mints, and sea salt, and you've created a gift everyone will want to dig into. This is an easy-peasy recipe that won't take longer than 40 or so minutes to make, so if time gets away from you, you can even toss it together day of.

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wrapped christmas presents beside a red bowl of popcorn
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