Each year they figure up how much it would cost to buy everything in the song “The 12 Days of Christmas.” No surprise that this year it hit a record high.
Purchasing a partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves and the other gifts mentioned in the classic song would run a hefty $46,729.86 this year, according to PNC Financial Services’ 2023 Christmas Price Index. That’s up 2.7 percent over last year, and 13.2 percent more expensive than in 2021.
Still, it would cost a whole lot more to truly accurately pay homage to the song. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s clear that the each gift is given each day, with another new gift added. So, there are a total of 12 partridges in pear trees, 22 turtle doves and you get the idea. To buy all those those items, you’d have to shell out a whopping $210,972.66 – surpassing the $200,000 mark for the first time ever.
It appears the cost of birds in trees and laying geese are up. As are live performers. But what are we paying the maids-a-milking? They need to go on strike!
GIFT COST +/-
| One Partridge in a Pear Tree* | $319.18 | +13.9% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Turtle Doves | $750.00 | +25% | |
| Three French Hens | $330.00 | +3.5% | |
| Four Calling Birds | $599.96 | 0.0% | |
| Five Gold Rings | $1,245.00 | 0.0% | |
| Six Geese-a-Laying | $780.00 | +8.3% | |
| Seven Swans-a-Swimming | $13,125.00 | 0.0% | |
| Eight Maids-a-Milking | $58.00 | 0.0% | |
| Nine Ladies Dancing | $8,308.12 | 0.0% | |
| 10 Lords-a-Leaping | $14,539.20 | +4% | |
| 11 Pipers Piping | $3,207.38 | +6.2% | |
| 12 Drummers Drumming | $3,468.02 | +6.2% | |
| Total Christmas Price Index | $46,729.86 | +2.7% | |
| Core Index (excl. swans) | $33,604.86 | +3.7% |
