The 12 Days of Christmas: When Do They Start and End?

The traditional Twelve Days of Christmas begin on December 25 and lead to Epiphany on January 6. The date count can be confusing, so this guide lays out the calendar and explains how it differs from Advent.

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the traditional days of the Christmas season, not the twelve days leading up to December 25. In the Church of England calendar, Christmas begins on December 25 and the season culminates in the Feast of Epiphany on January 6. Counting December 25 as day one gives a clear way to map the twelve dates: the twelfth day is January 5, followed by Epiphany on January 6.

This distinction explains why a short answer may say “December 25 to January 5,” while a church calendar describes the Christmas season as culminating at Epiphany on January 6. One is an inclusive count of twelve calendar dates; the other names the feast that brings the season to its close.

The Twelve Days, date by date

The dates below use the inclusive count in which Christmas Day is the first day. The calendar dates stay the same each year, although their weekdays change.

  1. Day 1 — December 25: Christmas Day.
  2. Day 2 — December 26: the second day of Christmas.
  3. Day 3 — December 27: the third day of Christmas.
  4. Day 4 — December 28: the fourth day of Christmas.
  5. Day 5 — December 29: the fifth day of Christmas.
  6. Day 6 — December 30: the sixth day of Christmas.
  7. Day 7 — December 31: the seventh day of Christmas.
  8. Day 8 — January 1: the eighth day of Christmas.
  9. Day 9 — January 2: the ninth day of Christmas.
  10. Day 10 — January 3: the tenth day of Christmas.
  11. Day 11 — January 4: the eleventh day of Christmas.
  12. Day 12 — January 5: the twelfth day; in the Church of England calendar, this is the eve of Epiphany.

January 6 is Epiphany. The Church of England describes it as the feast recalling how Jesus was revealed to the wider world through the visit of the Magi. In its calendar, the Christmas season culminates at this feast.

Why do Twelfth Night and the Twelfth Day get confused?

“Twelfth Day” refers to the twelfth date in a count, while “Twelfth Night” refers to an evening associated with the end of the Christmas period. In the common English count that starts with Christmas Day, January 5 is the twelfth day and its evening is Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany. Some people start counting on December 26 instead, which shifts the number they attach to January 5 or 6. That difference in counting—and the fact that “night” and “day” are not interchangeable—accounts for much of the confusion.

If you are following a particular church, community, or family custom, use its calendar for the observance. Feast days and the dates on which a service is held are not always the same, and local practice can differ.

How the Twelve Days differ from Advent

Advent comes before Christmas; the Twelve Days come after it. In the Church of England, Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day and its start date therefore changes from year to year. It is a season of expectation and preparation. Christmas Day then begins the Christmas season, which continues through the twelve days and culminates in Epiphany.

An Advent calendar is a household way to mark dates before Christmas. It may count down from December 1, but that popular countdown is not the same as the church-calendar Twelve Days, which start on December 25. The familiar carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” shares the name of the season; its verses are not a calendar showing when Advent or Epiphany occurs.

Simple ways to mark the season

There is no universal activity list that families need to complete. If you want to observe some of the days at home, choose a few ideas that fit your time and traditions: share a meal, revisit a Christmas story or song, call someone you have not seen, take a winter walk, or attend a local service. You can mark all twelve dates, select one or two, or simply use the calendar to understand the season.

The useful point is the order of the dates: Advent leads toward Christmas; December 25 begins the twelve-day count; January 5 is day twelve in an inclusive count; and Epiphany falls on January 6 in the Church of England calendar. That sequence gives you a reliable reference while leaving room for different customs.

Sources and related countdowns

For the Church of England’s explanation of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, see its guide to the liturgical year and Folger Shakespeare Library’s note on Twelfth Night . To plan the days before December 25, use our December countdown calendar or return to the live Christmas clock .