The 12th day of Christmas brings "Twelve drummers drumming," according to the traditional Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
The verses of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" build on one another because it is a cumulative tune. The song outlines a sequence of more lavish gifts that a "true love" gives to the song's singer over the course of the twelve days of Christmas, beginning on December 25 and concluding on January 5.
The song lists the following gifts:
- 1st Day: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
- 2nd Day: Two Turtle Doves
- 3rd Day: Three French Hens
- 4th Day: Four Calling Birds
- 5th Day: Five Golden Rings
- 6th Day: Six Geese a-Laying
- 7th Day: Seven Swans a-Swimming
- 8th Day: Eight Maids a-Milking
- 9th Day: Nine Ladies Dancing
- 10th Day: Ten Lords a-Leaping
- 11th Day: Eleven Pipers Piping
- 12th Day: Twelve Drummers Drumming
The presents stated in the song are not meant to be taken literally; rather, they serve as a whimsical illustration of the true meaning of Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a traditional song that has been handed down down the decades.