12 Days of Christmas Bingo: Free Printable Cards With the Song's 12 Gifts
12 days of Christmas bingo turns the old carol into a game: the squares are the song's twelve gifts, from a partridge in a pear tree to twelve drummers drumming, mixed with holiday words like Twelfth Night, wreath and sleigh bells. Below is a 26-word list for 5x5 cards with a free center, plus a 4x4 picture version for little kids. It's a great game for winter break, a family night between Christmas and New Year's, or the first week back in class.
The button opens the generator with every word loaded. Pick the Red & Green theme, choose how many cards and print.
▶ Make these 12 days of Christmas bingo cards
When are the 12 days of Christmas?
The twelve days of Christmas are the days between Christmas and Epiphany. They're usually counted from Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, through Tuesday, January 5, 2027, which is Twelfth Night. Epiphany (also called Three Kings Day) follows on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. Some traditions count the days starting on December 26 instead, so the dates vary a little from family to family and church to church.
That means the twelve days line up neatly with winter break. Play one round a day, or save the whole card for a cozy night in.
The 12 gifts in the song
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a traditional carol that's hundreds of years old, so the words are free to use. Here are the gifts in the version most people sing today:
| Day | Gift | Bingo square |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A partridge in a pear tree | Partridge in a pear tree |
| 2 | Two turtle doves | Two turtle doves |
| 3 | Three French hens | Three French hens |
| 4 | Four calling birds | Four calling birds |
| 5 | Five golden rings | Five golden rings |
| 6 | Six geese a-laying | Six geese a-laying |
| 7 | Seven swans a-swimming | Seven swans a-swimming |
| 8 | Eight maids a-milking | Eight maids a-milking |
| 9 | Nine ladies dancing | Nine ladies dancing |
| 10 | Ten lords a-leaping | Ten lords a-leaping |
| 11 | Eleven pipers piping | Eleven pipers piping |
| 12 | Twelve drummers drumming | Twelve drummers drumming |
Older versions of the song differ a bit. Some sing "colly birds" (an old word for blackbirds) instead of "calling birds," and a few swap the order of the later gifts. If your family sings it differently, edit the squares to match.
14 holiday words to round out the card
Twelve gifts aren't enough for a 5x5 card, so the list adds 14 holiday words. Now every card is different, and not everyone wins at once.
- Pear tree
- Twelfth Night
- Epiphany
- Wise men
- Star
- Carolers
- Wreath
- Sleigh bells
- Snowflake
- Gingerbread
- Ornament
- Stocking
- Candy cane
- Hot cocoa
How to play 12 days of Christmas bingo
- Print the cards. One per player. Each card is unique.
- Make a calling list. Print the word list or write each word on a slip of paper.
- Sing it, then call it. Call a gift by singing its line from the song, like "five golden rings!" Kids love joining in.
- Mark the square with a crayon, a button or a piece of cereal.
- Five in a row wins. Across, down or diagonal. The center is free.
Sing-along version
Play the song (or sing it together) and let everyone mark each gift as they hear it. The first person with a line shouts "bingo!" Because the song repeats every gift on every verse, players get plenty of chances to catch up. Our Christmas carol bingo works the same way with a whole playlist of carols.
12 days of Christmas picture bingo for little kids
Pre-readers can play with the second button under the list. It makes a 4x4 card with simple pictures and words, like a pear for the partridge, a ring, a swan and a drum, and no free space. Hold up or sing each gift, and kids find the picture. It's a gentle way to teach counting from one to twelve, too. Our tips on picture bingo for non-readers help with the youngest players.
Games to play during the 12 days of Christmas
- One gift a day. Starting on Christmas Day, call only that day's gift plus a couple of holiday words. Whoever has a line by Twelfth Night wins.
- Counting round. Call a number, and players mark the gift with that number, like "seven!" for swans a-swimming.
- Back-to-school round. Teachers can play on the first day back in January. Kids love telling you how far into the song they can remember.
- New Year's Eve warm-up. Play a round early in the evening, then switch to New Year's Eve bingo for the countdown.
Common mistakes
- Using only the twelve gifts on a 5x5 card. Twelve words can't fill 24 squares. Use the full 26-word list, or the 4x4 picture card with 16.
- Thinking the twelve days come before Christmas. They start on Christmas Day. The days before Christmas are Advent.
- Arguing over the lyrics. Versions differ. Use the one your family sings and edit the squares.
- Forgetting to sing. Calling "five golden rings" in a big, dramatic voice is half the fun.
▶ Make these 12 days of Christmas bingo cards
Frequently Asked Questions
What goes on a 12 days of Christmas bingo card?
The song's twelve gifts, from a partridge in a pear tree to twelve drummers drumming, plus holiday words like Twelfth Night, Epiphany, wreath, sleigh bells and hot cocoa so a 5x5 card has enough squares.
When are the 12 days of Christmas in 2026?
They're usually counted from Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, through Tuesday, January 5, 2027 (Twelfth Night). Epiphany is Wednesday, January 6. Some traditions start counting on December 26, so it varies.
How do you play twelve days of Christmas bingo?
Print a card for each player, then call each gift by singing its line from the song. Players mark the square, and five in a row wins. You can also play the song and let everyone mark the gifts as they hear them.
Is there a 12 days of Christmas game for kids?
Yes. The 4x4 picture version has simple pictures and short words, like a pear, a ring, a swan and a drum, with no free space. Little kids find the picture as you sing each gift.
What are the 12 gifts in the twelve days of Christmas?
A partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens, four calling birds, five golden rings, six geese a-laying, seven swans a-swimming, eight maids a-milking, nine ladies dancing, ten lords a-leaping, eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming.
