Epiphany and the Twelve Days of Christmas

Epiphany is a Greek word akin to “manifestation” in English. The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates a formal announcement in the revelation that Jesus Christ appears among us as both God and man, and He is the Son of God.
Martin Luther holds that, of the festivals celebrated in the Lutheran Liturgical Calendar, Christmas is considered to be twelve days in length from December 25 until January 5, culminating in the Feast of the Epiphany.
In the Church of England the Epiphany is celebrated as the “Twelfth Night.” This history brings us to …
The Twelve Days of Christmas Song,
first published in 1780, may be both English and French in origin. It certainly does illustrate and enumerate a lavish gift giving practice associated with the Christmas holiday.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.