In the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" how many gifts are there altogether over the span of the twelve days?

elburcher

One way to interpret the lyrics of this song is that on each new day, all the gifts are given. This makes the total number of gifts given (counting 12 partridges, 22 turtle doves...) equal to 364, one fewer than the number of days in a year. There are 376 gifts if you count the pear tree as a separate gift from the partridge that resides in it. Of the 364 total items, 184 of them are birds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas Oct 21 06, 11:26 PM

What-A-Mess

12+11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1=78..... Unless you mean cumulatively. Then the answer is.......364. Oct 21 06, 11:39 PM

What-A-Mess

Damn! I wish I had continued with Math. It was a loooong process figuring out this number. Had I been keen to the statistical value formula or the Calculus formula, I could have been done in seconds. Live and learn! Oct 21 06, 11:42 PM

Baloo55th

But you haven't counted in the cows... The maids can't be a-milking without a cow (or similar beast) to milk. Oct 22 06, 6:06 AM

What-A-Mess

That is where the trouble lies. Could be 8 maids-a-milking only 2 cows. One on each teet! Oct 22 06, 6:55 AM

groovey67

11 Pipers piping - the pipers and their pipes must be counted. 12 Drummers drumming - the drummers and their drums must be counted (possibly drumsticks as well). Oct 22 06, 8:59 AM

What-A-Mess

Oy vey. Such a dilemma. Where does one stop the counting? Oct 22 06, 10:53 AM

groovey67

And the Six Geese a laying. do you count the eggs? Oct 22 06, 11:26 AM

Baloo55th

Good point. How many eggs do geese lay at one sitting? Oct 22 06, 11:43 AM

skysmom65

Wow, you guys know how to complicate a question! I was asking about the gifts and only the gifts...not any accessories just "What my true love gave to me." 364 is the correct answer!! Oct 22 06, 12:58 PM

What-A-Mess

We are, after all, ego-maniacal, have-to-be-right, opinionated, complicated, educated and a lot of other "eds", type of people. What did you expect????? A simple answer? Ha! :-) Oct 22 06, 1:12 PM

skysmom65

True! I should have known better!! Oct 22 06, 1:22 PM

Narutowarrior

It took me awhile to count them all, but there are a total of 364 gifts! Oct 22 06, 1:42 PM

Baloo55th

We should try to persuade Terry to add 'The Home of Nit Picking' to the Home Page.... Or then again, perhaps not.... But What-A-Mess is right about us regulars here. Doctors probably hate us because we've read up (and diagnosed correctly) our condition; similarly with garages, plumbers, lawyers and any other experts we have to deal with. People like us are the reason that laws and sets of rules have to be so complicated - otherwise we'd walk straight through them. Isn't life fun? Oct 22 06, 1:51 PM

SOTHC

It does depend on what version you listen to. Here is one for dog lovers http://katzdawgs.tripod.com/12days.htm Oct 22 06, 3:49 PM

SOTHC

or http://www.pkblogs.com/cativa/2004/12/12-days-of-christmas-teenager-style.html for those with teenage kids Oct 22 06, 3:52 PM

lanfranco

Are the pear trees in fruit? Because then ... Oh, forget it. It's winter, after all. Oct 22 06, 4:10 PM

groovey67

Depends on what Hemisphere you live in. Oct 22 06, 4:12 PM

lanfranco

Sigh. You're right. Oct 22 06, 5:22 PM

skysmom65

I really opend a can of worms here!! Oct 22 06, 7:36 PM

SOTHC

What day were they delivered? Oct 23 06, 2:56 AM

What-A-Mess

I guess that makes 365 gifts! Oct 23 06, 7:37 AM

Baloo55th

Now hang on - where do the worms come in? Unless they're in the soil that the pear trees are growing in..... Oct 23 06, 1:20 PM

What-A-Mess

The worms came from the Pears! Oct 23 06, 1:52 PM

SOTHC

Or any of the numerous people or animals mentioned could have been suffering from them Oct 23 06, 5:08 PM

What-A-Mess

Far enough! I am outta here! Oct 23 06, 5:44 PM

Brainyblonde

All the microscopic life on both the animals and people would put the number in the billions! Oct 23 06, 5:54 PM

SOTHC

So the recipient may not have survived to the twelth day anyway with all those germs about. Oct 24 06, 3:52 AM

skysmom65

The worms came from the can I opened when I asked the original question! Oct 24 06, 7:28 AM

What-A-Mess

Oy! Oct 24 06, 9:57 AM