Grab your French hens, because it’s the third day of Christmas.

Yes, that’s right. Friday, Dec. 27, is the third day because the famous 12-day series begins — rather than ends — on Dec. 25.

When do the 12 days of Christmas end?

The 12 days of Christmas are a religious event spanning from Christmas Day to another holiday called “Epiphany.”

Epiphany, which is sometimes called “Three Kings’ Day,” commemorates the Bible story of the three wisemen, who are said to have brought special gives to baby Jesus and declared him the son of God, according to Religion News Service.

Some Christians always celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 6, but it’s also common to mark it on whatever Sunday falls closest to Jan. 6.

In 2025, that Sunday is Jan. 5.

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Epiphany traditions vary widely from country to country and culture to culture, Religion News Service reported.

In some countries, Epiphany involves an additional gift exchange. But in the U.S., the festivities are typically limited to a themed worship service.

Gifts for 12 days of Christmas

Although the Christmas carol “The 12 Days of Christmas” plays off the religious season of the same name, the gifts that it describes — the partridge, the geese-a-laying, etc. — aren’t actually religious in nature, according to Vox.

And the gifts included in the song have changed over time. Multiple versions of the song exist, the article noted.

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Here’s the most popular version of “The 12 Days of Christmas”:

  • Day 1: A partridge in a pear tree
  • Day 2: Two turtledoves
  • Day 3: Three French hens
  • Day 4: Four calling birds
  • Day 5: Five golden rings
  • Day 6: Six geese-a-laying
  • Day 7: Seven swans-a-swimming
  • Day 8: Eight maids-a-milking
  • Day 9: Nine ladies dancing
  • Day 10: 10 lords-a-leaping
  • Day 11: 11 pipers piping
  • Day 12: 12 drummers drumming

“The song most of us are familiar with today comes from an English composer named Frederic Austin; in 1909, he set the melody and lyrics,” Vox reported.

When to take down Christmas decorations

Since Christmas items go on sale in some stores before Halloween, and Christmas music begins playing on radio stations in November, it’s understandable that some families start taking down their Christmas decorations on Dec. 26.

But if you care about “The 12 Days of Christmas,” then you should hold off on packing up your ornaments and nutcrackers — at least until early January.

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