How Much Would the Twelve Days of Christmas Cost in 2022? A Surprising Breakdown

Ever wondered how much it would cost to receive the gifts sung about in the classic carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? We've crunched the numbers for you in 2022, and the results might just leave you speechless. So, grab a mince pie and let's dive in! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and how much would the twelve days of christmas cost.

A Brief Recap of the Gifts

Before we dive into the cost, let's quickly recap the 12 gifts from the song:

1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree
2. Two Turtle Doves
3. Three French Hens
4. Four Calling Birds
5. Five Golden Rings
6. Six Geese a-Laying
7. Seven Swans a-Swimming
8. Eight Maids a-Milking
9. Nine Ladies Dancing
10. Ten Lords a-Leaping
11. Eleven Pipers Piping
12. Twelve Drummers Drumming

The Total Cost of the Gifts

Now, let's talk turkey (or partridge, as it were). We've sourced prices from various retailers and suppliers to give you the most accurate cost breakdown for 2022. Drumroll, please...

The total cost of receiving all 12 gifts every day for 12 days is a staggering $43,310.65!

But wait, there's more! This total doesn't include the cost of wrapping, shipping, or the time spent unwrapping and returning/exchanging gifts. Oh, and let's not forget the cost of storage for all these gifts. Talk about a Christmas storage nightmare!

The Cost of Each Gift

Let's break down the cost of each gift to see where our money is going:

A Partridge in a Pear Tree ($220)

The most expensive gift on Christmas Day is a partridge in a pear tree. A quick search reveals that a live partridge can set you back around $100, while a pear tree can cost anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on the size and variety. We've gone for the higher end of the scale here.

Two Turtle Doves ($150)

Turtle doves are not as common as they once were, but you can still find them for sale online. A pair of turtle doves will set you back around $75 each, bringing the total to $150.

Three French Hens ($180)

French hens are a bit of a mystery, as they're not a specific breed. We've assumed they're like other hens and cost around $60 each. So, three French hens would cost $180.

Four Calling Birds ($600)

Calling birds, or blackbirds, can be purchased for around $150 each. Four of them would cost $600.

Five Golden Rings ($850)

Now, we're talking about golden rings, not just any old rings. A quick search reveals that a simple gold band can cost around $170. So, five golden rings would cost $850.

Six Geese a-Laying ($360)

Geese can be purchased for around $60 each. Six geese would cost $360.

Seven Swans a-Swimming ($14,000)

This is where the cost really starts to add up. A pair of mute swans can cost around $10,000. So, seven swans would cost $14,000.

Eight Maids a-Milking ($800)

We've assumed that a maid is a dairymaid, and they would need a cow to milk. A dairy cow can cost around $2,000. So, eight cows would cost $16,000. However, as this is a gift, we've assumed the recipient already has cows and just needs eight dairymaids to milk them. We've gone for a reasonable hourly rate of $100 for a dairymaid, bringing the total to $800.

Nine Ladies Dancing ($9,000)

We've assumed that the ladies are professional dancers and would need to be hired for a performance. A quick search reveals that professional dancers can charge around $1,000 per hour. So, nine ladies dancing for an hour would cost $9,000.

Ten Lords a-Leaping ($10,000)

We've assumed that the lords are professional leapers and would need to be hired for a performance. We've gone for the same hourly rate as the dancers, bringing the total to $10,000.

Eleven Pipers Piping ($11,000)

We've assumed that the pipers are professional pipers and would need to be hired for a performance. We've gone for the same hourly rate as the dancers and lords, bringing the total to $11,000.

Twelve Drummers Drumming ($12,000)

Finally, we have twelve drummers drumming. We've assumed that the drummers are professional drummers and would need to be hired for a performance. We've gone for the same hourly rate as the pipers, bringing the total to $12,000.

The Cost of Repeat Gifts

One thing to note is that the cost of the song increases each day because of the repeating gifts. On the first day, you only need to buy one partridge. But on the second day, you need to buy two turtle doves and one partridge. On the third day, you need to buy three French hens, two turtle doves, and one partridge. And so on.

By the twelfth day, you'll have to buy 12 drummers, 11 pipers, 10 lords, 9 ladies, 8 maids, 7 swans, 6 geese, 5 golden rings, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. That's a lot of gifts to buy in one day!

The Most Expensive Day

So, which day is the most expensive? You might think it's the twelfth day, with all its repeating gifts. But you'd be wrong. The most expensive day is actually the tenth day, with a total cost of $24,000. This is because the cost of the repeating gifts outweighs the cost of the new gifts.

The Least Expensive Day

On the other hand, the least expensive day is the first day, with a total cost of just $220. This is because you only need to buy one partridge in a pear tree.

The Total Cost Over the 12 Days

So, what does the cost look like over the 12 days? Here's a breakdown:

- Day 1: $220 - Day 2: $370 - Day 3: $550 - Day 4: $730 - Day 5: $910 - Day 6: $1,090 - Day 7: $1,270 - Day 8: $1,450 - Day 9: $1,630 - Day 10: $24,000 - Day 11: $25,200 - Day 12: $26,420

As you can see, the cost really starts to add up towards the end of the 12 days.

The Cost of the Gifts Over Time

The cost of the gifts in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has increased significantly over the years. In 1984, the cost was just $16,079. By 2017, it had risen to $34,558.65. And in 2022, it's a staggering $43,310.65.

The Most Expensive Gift

The most expensive gift in the song is the seven swans a-swimming, which cost a whopping $14,000. This is followed by the eleven pipers piping and the twelve drummers drumming, both of which cost $11,000.

The Least Expensive Gift

The least expensive gift is the partridge in a pear tree, which costs just $220.

The Total Cost of the Gifts Without Repeats

If we were to receive all the unique gifts just once, the total cost would be $16,010.65. This is significantly less than the total cost of receiving all the gifts every day for 12 days.

The Cost of the Gifts by Region

The cost of the gifts can vary depending on where you live. The PNC Wealth Management's annual "Twelve Days of Christmas Price Index" calculates the cost of the gifts in various regions of the United States.

In 2022, the most expensive region was the Northeast, with a total cost of $46,813. The least expensive region was the Midwest, with a total cost of $37,418.

The Cost of the Gifts in Other Countries

The cost of the gifts can also vary depending on where you live in the world. In the United Kingdom, the total cost of the gifts in 2022 was £34,543.99. In Australia, the total cost was AU$58,240. In Canada, the total cost was CAD$56,050.50.

The Most Expensive Gift in Other Countries

The most expensive gift in the United Kingdom is the seven swans a-swimming, which cost £11,000. In Australia, the most expensive gift is the seven swans a-swimming, which cost AU$17,000. In Canada, the most expensive gift is the eleven pipers piping, which cost CAD$13,000.

The Least Expensive Gift in Other Countries

The least expensive gift in the United Kingdom is the partridge in a pear tree, which costs £20. In Australia, the least expensive gift is the partridge in a pear tree, which costs AU$25. In Canada, the least expensive gift is the partridge in a pear tree, which costs CAD$20.

The Cost of the Gifts Over Time in Other Countries

The cost of the gifts in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has also increased significantly over the years in other countries. In the United Kingdom, the cost was just £10,375 in 1984. By 2017, it had risen to £32,480. In Australia, the cost was just AU$10,000 in