Although the song predates it, the earliest known printed version of it is in the 1780 book "Mirth without Mischief" which presented the song as a forfeit game whereby in each round an additional verse was added to the song. Whomever made an error in recalling the previous verses, had to pay a forfeit. Some make claim that the song is a actually a catechism song, written in England during a time when the Catholic faith was prohibited but no evidence has been shown to support this claim and furthermore there is evidence that there may well be French origins to the song.
The Twelve Days actually refers to the festive days beginning Christmas Day (25 December). This period is also known as Christmastide. The Twelfth Day of Christmas is 5 January, the day by which you should take down your Christmas decorations and tree. The twelve days of Christmas are followed by the Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January.
St. Stephen's Day is 26th December in the Western Church and 27th December in the Eastern Church. Boxing Day, the first weekday after Christmas, is observed as a legal holiday in the United Kingdom and parts of the Commonwealth. It was traditionally marked by the giving of Christmas boxes to service workers. The 28th December is Childermas or the Feast of the Innocents (a commemoration of The Massacre of the Innocents; an episode of infanticide by Herod the Great.
The comedy play “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare is believed to have been written specifically for the close of the festive season.
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