"The Twelve Days of Christmas" Items and Their Cost for 2025

Using various sources such as PNC Wealth Management’s “Cost of Christmas” report, market averages, and expert valuations, here’s an estimate of the cost of the gifts given from December 25 until January 5, 2025.

For 42 years, PNC has calculated the prices of the 12 gifts from the classic song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” When all 364 presents are taken into account, the total is $218,542.98, a 4.4% increase from last year.

Origin of the Song

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English Christmas carol and a cumulative song lists increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. The song was published in England in 1780 without music as a chant.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Buying a partridge in a pear tree for your true love this year is 13.5% more than last year. But don’t blame the bird. Its pear tree home – impacted by land, labor, and fertilizer costs – is entirely responsible for the growing price tag of $420.18.

Two Turtle Doves

Doves are a common symbol of love and peace. Turtle doves mate for life, so giving two turtle doves could be a way the lover expresses his intention for love and marriage.

The two turtle doves didn’t raise their price this year, but at $750 they’re still a surprisingly expensive gift.

Three French Hens

The French hens kept their price from last year. They are the cheapest group of birds, costing $346.50.

Four Calling Birds

The price of a calling bird remains the same as it has been since 2014. They still cost $599.96. Like other birds, the food contributes to their cost.

Five Golden Rings

Inflation, expectations of a Federal rate cut, and a declining U.S. dollar have sent investors racing for gold and other precious metals. The cost this year is a 32.5% increase in the total price of $1,649.90.

Six Geese-a-Laying

To gift someone with a goose is special, but to give six is even more special. The geese are valuable, and their value increases because of the eggs they lay. There is a 3.3% increase this year, where the total price is $930.

Seven Swans-a-Swimming

The swans did not raise their price this year. Their $13,125 price tag still keeps them the most expensive group of birds on the list.

Eight Maids-a-Milking

The maids are unskilled laborers and still get only the federal minimum wage. All eight of them cost only $58. Of course, that's always the least expensive cost on the list.

At that time, it was the job of women to do the milking, and maids would have been available for that chore since they were single and had no family to take care of.

Nine Ladies Dancing

Music and dancing were a big part of the celebrations at the time the song was written. Therefore, it is not unusual for the songwriter to want to entertain the true lover with nine ladies dancing. Their fee this year for their performance increased 3.5% to a total of $8,856.88. That makes them the third most expensive item on the list.

Ten Lords-a-Leaping

Just like the nine ladies dancing to provide entertainment, ten lords leaping are on the list for the same reason. Their cost increased by 8.1% to $16,836.14.

Eleven Pipers Piping

Keeping with the themes of entertainment, music, and dancing, 11 pipers perform for $3,797.48, a 2.2% increase from 2024.

Twelve Drummers Drumming

The 12 drummers come at the end of the song to conclude it. The cost of the drummers in 2025 is $4,106.08, a 2.2% increase from last year.

Total Cost

The total cost of all 364 gifts mentioned in the song comes to $218,542.98, a 4.4% increase from last year.