12 Days of Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas traditionally start on Christmas Day and end on Epiphany (January 6th). Although it began as a Christian tradition, Christmas has become widely celebrated, making it a season for people of all backgrounds to enjoy time together. We’ve created a list of 12 holiday-themed activities that extend the festivities beyond December 25th and can even be used as a fun countdown to Christmas. Each day’s theme is inspired by the classic song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” with activities across the different domains of wellness.
1st Day of Christmas- Partridge in a Pear Tree
Caroling (Emotional Wellness)
Gather for caroling, singing holiday favorites and starting with the classic “12 Days of Christmas!” This activity is a perfect way to celebrate Christmas Day with joy, connection, and the spirit of togetherness.
2nd Day of Christmas - Turtle Doves
Pair Matching Game (Intellectual Wellness)
Turtle doves come in pairs, so a matching game fits perfectly! Use cards with festive images (e.g., holiday symbols, birds, or Christmas-themed words) for a fun memory challenge. We like this one by Aimée Geroux if you don’t want to make your own.
3rd Day of Christmas- French Hens
French-Themed Cooking Class (Vocational Wellness)
Enjoy the gift of taste with a French-inspired cooking class featuring light, festive treats. Try baking mini croissants, a French chicken dish, or a classic French dessert like a Bûche de Noël for a simple, joyful cooking session. This activity allows participants to learn new culinary skills while creating delicious holiday treats to share with family and friends.
4th Day of Christmas- Calling Birds
Make DIY Bird Feeders (Spiritual Wellness)
Create eco-friendly bird feeders using simple materials such as pine cones, peanut butter, and bird seed or recycle materials like egg cartons or milk jugs as suggested in this post by Project Learning Tree. This activity helps connect people with nature, encouraging a sense of mindfulness and serenity as they prepare feeders for local wildlife. The act of feeding birds can be seen as a spiritual practice, symbolizing care for all living things and fostering a sense of connection with the environment.
5th Day of Christmas- Gold Rings
Ring Toss (Physical Wellness)
Set up a festive ring toss game with gold-painted rings. For a more challenging twist, try setting up targets at different distances or varying heights to add an element of skill development. This fun and energizing physical activity can be played indoors, encouraging movement, coordination, and friendly competition.
6th Day of Christmas- Geese A’Laying
Group Storytelling or Holiday Skit (Social Wellness)
Inspired by the social nature of geese, participants can take turns sharing short holiday stories, memories, or even create a simple holiday skit together. Geese work as a team during migration, so this activity can encourage teamwork and fun, bringing everyone together in a social setting.
7th Day of Christmas- Swans A’Swimming
Winter Watercolors (Vocational Wellness)
Paint serene winter scenes inspired by swans gliding on a lake. Using watercolor techniques, this peaceful activity provides a creative outlet while fostering mindfulness and artistic expression. The theme of swans, often symbols of grace and beauty, can encourage participants to reflect on personal moments of serenity or beauty. This activity is also a wonderful way to engage in vocational wellness, as participants develop fine motor skills and engage in a calming, hands-on artistic process.
8th Day of Christmas- Maids A’Milking
Hot Cocoa and Story Sharing (Social Wellness)
Gather with some festive drinks like hot cocoa or milk-based eggnog and encourage participants to share their favorite holiday memories or stories. We’ll start- when Sonia was young her grandfather would feed a local squirrel. This squirrel got so comfortable he started taking food straight from their hands and one holiday season even strolled into the living room and climbed the Christmas Tree!
9th Day of Christmas- Ladies Dancing
Dance Class (Physical Wellness)
Lead a dance class with simple, joyful tunes. Dancing is a fun way to stay active, lift spirits, and celebrate together. This could have the added theme of holiday music and movements and its complexity can be tailored to the participants’ abilities and experience. Sherry Zak Morris at Yoga Vista has different chair yoga dance videos you can follow along; this hour long class combines yoga and dance. Debbie Good has a 30 minute holiday themed video with chair exercises. Her positive energy is sure to get your loved one moving!
10th Day of Christmas- Lords A’Leaping
Holiday Blessing or Prayer (Spiritual Wellness)
In keeping with the theme of lords, who are often associated with reverence and blessing, you could lead a short spiritual ceremony or prayer to bless the season and those present. This can help participants feel spiritually connected to the deeper meaning of the holidays. You could even add a ritual such as lighting candles or sharing blessings for the coming year.
11th Day of Christmas- Pipers Piping
Name That Tune (Intellectual Wellness)
Play snippets of popular songs and challenge participants to identify the song. This fun and engaging activity tests memory and knowledge of music while stimulating intellectual engagement. As with the dance class this can also be themed such as holiday music, songs from the last year, or which include wind instruments like flutes or wooden pipes.
12th Day of Christmas- Drummers Drumming
Music Circle (Emotional Wellness)
Host a drum circle or rhythm session where participants can try drums, tambourines, or clapping in rhythm. This activity can be uplifting and connect everyone through music. Giving Tree Music has a 15 minute YouTube video that is simple to follow along and get the rhythm going!
Whether you’re counting down to Christmas or continuing the festive spirit into the New Year, these activities are designed to inspire fun, connection, and well-being for everyone involved.
