The 12 Days of Christmas: When Do They Start and End?
The Twelve Days of Christmas are traditionally part of the Christmas season, not the Advent countdown before Christmas. Here are the dates and how the calendar is commonly counted.
When do the Twelve Days begin?
In the traditional Christian calendar, the Christmas season begins on Christmas Day, December 25. The twelve days lead toward Epiphany on January 6. Counted inclusively, the twelve days run from December 25 through January 5, with Epiphany on January 6. The Church of England describes the Christmas season as twelve days culminating in Epiphany on January 6.
Customs and the way people use the phrase âTwelfth Nightâ vary. Some communities celebrate the evening of January 5; others use January 6 for related observances. Local church calendars may also move a service to a nearby Sunday for pastoral reasons.
Is this the same as Advent?
No. Advent is the season of preparation before Christmas and starts on a date that changes each year. The Twelve Days begin on December 25. A December countdown calendar is a modern way to mark the days leading up to Christmas; it is not the same thing as either liturgical season.
Why do people ask âwhen do the 12 days start?â
The familiar song âThe Twelve Days of Christmasâ and everyday holiday decorations sometimes make the dates seem ambiguous. A clear calendar answer is: Christmas Day is day one; January 5 is the twelfth day; Epiphany is January 6. In casual use, people may use â12 days of Christmasâ more loosely for a festive period or a twelve-day activity.
Plan your own twelve-day countdown
If you want to celebrate the twelve days, keep the plan simple and personal. Choose a favorite song, recipe, story, or small activity for selected days. There is no need to buy twelve gifts or follow a particular checklist.
For source details, see the Church of England liturgical year guide. For the countdown before Christmas, visit our December calendar or live Christmas clock.
Find any day in the December 25 to January 5 count
In the convention that starts on December 25, December 31 is day 7 and January 1 is day 8. January 5 is day 12, followed by Epiphany on January 6 in traditions that observe it on that date.
| Days | Dates |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | December 25 to 27 |
| 4 to 6 | December 28 to 30 |
| 7 to 9 | December 31 to January 2 |
| 10 to 12 | January 3 to 5 |
If your plan begins on day 2, open the December 26 timer.