The Twelve Days of Christmas Gifts: A Modern Guide to Giving with Intention

We all know the famous earworm: A partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens… But unless you happen to have a large farm and a deep affection for poultry, gifting an entire aviary’s worth of wildlife to your partner or family member might cause more chaos than Christmas cheer.

The traditional English carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”—dating back to at least the 18th century—was originally a memory game or a festive counting song. Yet, the underlying concept of spreading joy across the twelve days (which run from Christmas Day, December 25th, through the Epiphany on January 5th) is one of the most charming holiday traditions you can adopt.