Easy 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas for Family & Friends (2024)

How does the 12 days of Christmas gift giving work?

12 days of Christmas gift ideas will touch your heart deeply. It certainly did for us!

12 days of Christmas gift ideas for family and for friends

In 2009, we spent months worrying about my husband’s declining health, without any answers from doctors. Finally, at the Mayo Clinic, they diagnosed him with Crohn’s Disease and operated on him. On that same day in November, my dad had surgery due to cancer. It had been a tough year.

But that December, we received a box of wrapped gifts at our doorstep.

The 12 Days of Christmas gift. Years later, I still have no idea who gave it to us.

But I know this: the unique, inexpensive gift gave us immeasurable joy that year. The kind of uplifting a person’s soul needs from time to time. And gosh, it brings tears to my eyes still today.

Paying It Forward

The year after, we dropped off this gift idea to a couple enduring failed fertility treatments. Again, the delight we felt in giving the gift was too much to measure.

Both are memories I will cherish for a lifetime.

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Funny and fun 12 days of Christmas gifts and gift ideas for adults and families, twelve days

12 Days of Christmas Gifts Meaning

If you didn’t know, this present is a collection of gift ideas from the 12 days of Christmas song. It can be given to someone anonymously or as a regular gift for the year.

Recipients unwrap one gift a day until the song is done.

The present is great for anyone who needs their spirits lifted. But it’s also perfect for the person in your life that you don’t know what to buy for. Or anyone who needs extra love!

Below are 12 days of Christmas gift ideas for every price range. So, spend as little or as much as you want. You can stick to the number of items that go with the song, or just do one each day. It’s completely up to you!

Places to Find Gift Items

I give super easy Amazon ideas throughout this post. But Walmart, Target, and the Dollar Store are also GREAT places to find fun items.

Then, check out alternative ideas, methods of delivery, and free printable tags at the end of the article!

Easy 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas That Go With the Song

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree”

Stick with pears or a family tree theme for the first gift!

12 days of Christmas gift ideas list, day 1: pears

  • A basket of pears and fruit
  • A can of pears
  • A jar of pear preserves
  • Sparkling pear cider
  • A fresh pear pie

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Two turtle doves…

On the second day, explore dove or turtle items – or both for your gift!

12 days of Christmas gifts ideas for friends and family: day 2 doves

  • Dove chocolates

“On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Three French hens….”

Like the others, there are several themes to day three. Think France, chickens, or hens!

easy 12 days of Christmas list of gifts that go with the song: day 3: succulents

  • Cans of Chicken Soup
  • Croissants
  • Homemade roasted chicken dinner
  • A gift card to a local French restaurant

“On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four calling birds…”

On day four, go all out with bird items or stick to a simple cell phone “calling” gift.

Small Twelve days of Christmas gifts: Day 4 birds

“On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Five gold rings…”

This is the easiest day for gift ideas! So many things come in a ring shape!

5 golden rings: napkins

  • Butterscotch lifesavers
  • Pork rinds
  • Glazed donuts

*If you’re loving the countdown idea, check out

“On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Six geese a laying, …”

For these 12 days of Christmas gift ideas, go all in on eggs, or hone in on a great goose item.

12 days of Christmas gift ideas for secret Santa or for work and employees 2023: Day 6 eggs

  • Mini bottles or one regular bottle of Grey Goose
  • Chocolate cream-filled eggs

“On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Seven swans a swimming…”

Swan items aren’t easy to find, but you can also explore anything that has to do with swimming for this day’s theme!

swan song: 12 days of Christmas gifts that go with the song for him or her

“On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eight maids a milking…”

Cleaning and milk have nothing to do with each other, but apart they make great gifts for day eight!

Day 8: milk

  • Fancy coffee creamer
  • Certificate for an after-holiday cleaning service
  • Gourmet cheese basket
  • A small carton of milk with travel-sized cereal

“On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing…”

Dance, dance, dance! There’s only one theme for this day, so make it fun!

12 days of Christmas gifts last minute ideas: day 9 dancing

  • A new Christmas CD for dancing
  • A Christmas music playlist
  • Certificate for dance classes
  • Tickets to a dance performance like the Nutcracker Ballet

“On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Ten lords a leaping…”

Go with “leaping” or “Lords” for an interesting day ten gift!

day 10 leaping

  • A crown for the Lord or Lady
  • Lord of the Rings DVDs or memorabilia
  • A shirt with the word “Lord,” a manger, or another religious item.

“On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping…”

Next, day eight needs some pipes or something that’s piping hot!

Day 8: wind pipes

  • A bagpipe CD
  • Toy bagpipes

“On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming…”

And finally, have some fun with drums for the last day!

funny 12 days of Christmas gifts and gift ideas that go with the lyrics of song: day 12 drums

  • A drum cookie tin filled with cookies or popcorn
  • Ice cream drumsticks
  • Fried or grilled chicken drumsticks
  • Tickets to Stomp or a live band

Find other unique gift ideas with the popular list of non-toy gift ideas for kids!

BONUS: We received The Three Trees in our 12 days of Christmas gift years ago. I STILL read it every year to my kids. But I can’t remember what day it was in!

Different 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas List

If sticking with the theme for your 12 days of Christmas gifts is intimidating, or you think your recipient won’t enjoy all the gifts, no worries! Do a small gift that has nothing to do with the song! After all, it’s your gift. You get to decide how it’s done.

simple and modern twelve days of Christmas gifts and ideas for guy or girl

Here are non-theme gifts for the twelve days of Christmas:

Day 1 – One: gingerbread house kit, candle, book, new family game, jewelry item, mug, flashlight, the 12 Days of Christmas book for your state

Day 2 – Two: socks, facial masks, bags of coffee, chapsticks, earrings, small books, gloves

Day 3 – Three: granola bars, bags of popcorn, succulents, pairs of underwear

Day 4 – Four: bath bombs, fancy cheeses, love notes, small tools

Day 5 – Five: A $5 gift card, mini art notes, mini candy bars

Day 6 – Six: nice pens, bath supplies, bottles of their favorite soda or beer

Day 7 – Seven: cans of sparkling water, homemade coupons (see these free blank love coupons, or this free coupon printable for kids)

Day 8 – Eight: homemade treats, glow sticks, coasters

Day 9 – Nine: fancy olives, photos to frame, affirmation cards

Day 10 – Ten: stickers, cookies in a tin, reasons I love you

Day 11 – Eleven: tea bags, pieces of gum, fun paper straws, batteries

Day 12 – Twelve: pieces of chocolate, mints, nuts in a bag, cupcake wrappers (with a few baking ingredients)

All of these gift ideas for family and friends are low-cost or free. It’s the thought that counts!

*Another great gift idea: The Christmas Eve box for kids, teenagers, and adults

Free Printable 12 Days of Christmas Tags

Mark each gift with the number. Download the free printable 12 days of Christmas gift tags below.

Free printable 12 days of Christmas gift ideas tags for coworker, husband, girlfriend, teacher, neighbors

Or use a unique 12 days of Christmas puzzle and have your recipient put the puzzle together as the days go by.

How to Deliver Gifts for 12 Days of Christmas

Now, there are two different ways to deliver your special gift.

Full Drop-Off Gift Blitz

First, wrap all of your gifts ahead of time, and label them by day. Write a note telling the recipient they need to open ONE gift per day. Then, put everything in a large box or basket. Drop it on the recipient’s doorstep (doorbell dash) or deliver in person.

Easy peasy, and you’re done.

How to deliver your small presents

Day to Day Drop-Off

Second, if you want to give a new surprise daily or you have fresh items (like the cheese basket), you’ll need to give them something for each day. Obviously, this method is a bit more work.

And just know, with this delivery, it would be difficult to keep it anonymous (if that’s what you wanted).

Looking for holiday traditions that bring your family together?

Check out my affordable ebook packed with 260+ of the best family tradition ideas. It has lots of creative holiday ideas, plus unique traditions year-round to help you build quality time and unique memories with those you love.

family traditions ebook

Related:

To Consider With 12 Days of Christmas Gifts

There you have it! Lots of easy ideas to make this gift work for you! Use it for family, friends, Secret Santa, or even work. Now, enjoy a truly festive and fun holiday season!

funny and fun 12 days of Christmas gifts for family pin

What are your favorite 12 days of Christmas gift ideas? And, have you ever done this gift before?

Amazing Gift Posts to Check Out…

Funny 12 Days of Christmas Gifts That Go With the Song

5 Comments

  1. I love this idea.

  2. Mema of 18 grandkids says:

    Thanks for the ideas!!

    1. So glad you found the list helpful! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Julie Holyoak says:

    Love this and will be implementing these ideas this year. Thank you 😊

    1. So glad you loved the list Julie! Thanks for sharing, and Happy Holidays!

Comments are closed.