SeedSing's Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Music: Day 13 - The Twelve Days of Christmas

ed note: This article was originally published on December 13th, 2015

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a new awesome holiday song for every day of Advent. This is the greatest music of the season. Enjoy.

Day 13: The Twelve Days of Christmas by Bob and Doug McKenzie

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven Twelve

When I was growing up I used to love to go Christmas caroling with some neighborhood families. I loved getting bundled up, sipping on hot cocoa, and singing the classic Christmas tunes in a large group. The way I remember the scene is very Norman Rockwellesque. Of all the classic tunes we would sing, I looked most forward to "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Like every other kid I enjoyed belting out the part about the five golden rings. The twelve days song was the peak of the Christmas season. The twelve days was the top reason to go out caroling.

As I grew older I started to real dislike "The 12 Days of Christmas" The gifts make no sense. What were the actual twelve days of Christmas? The length and repetitive nature of the song is excruciating. Every modern version of the song takes the horrid tune, and makes it a whole lot worse. My love for the song was pure childhood ignorance. If I could spend a whole holiday season without having to think about pipers piping, maids a milking, or five freaking golden rings I would be so happy.

On the 1981 comedy album The Great White North , Bob and Doug McKenzie (characters created and played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) redeemed "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with their comedic look at what Canadian hillbillies thought of the twelve days of presents. The entire song takes everything bad about the original, and makes it a whole lot more fun. They first try to identify what the actual twelve days are. We all know about Christmas and Christmas Eve, but we often forget Boxing Day (or is it wrestling day?). Who in their right mind would think a partridge in a pear tree is a great gift. The McKenzie brothers know that a beer is a great way to start of the first day of Christmas. Plus once you get eight comic books, there is no point to go on with the next few days. The McKenzie brothers understand how idiotic the original is, and just cut it off before the end to make the point. Coming up with twelve days is too hard.

Christmas is only twelve days away. Go out and enjoy shopping for presents. Give the McKenzie brothers "Twelve Days of Christmas" a listen and get some ideas. Any good person could use five golden tuques. If you are truly in a giving mood, go to a good doughnut shop and get me a bakers dozen for Christmas. Then I will fall in love with the music of the thirteen days of Christmas.

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Instead of the seven packs of smokes, he really wants 7 writers blogging. Make his Christmas wish come true by writing for SeedSing.