You’re Doing It Wrong: The 12 Days of Christmas

Eight maids a milking

Seven Swans a Swimming

Six Geese a laying

FIIIIIVE GOOOOLDEN RIIIIINGS

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Do you know where the error is? Can you call it out?

I’ve never heard it sung a different way, but turns out it’s not “Four Calling Birds,” it’s “Four Colly Birds.”

I know! Mind blown!

And it turns out that a Colly bird is a type of Blackbird, which makes the whole song that much more awesome. It’s like The Nightmare Before Christmas has woven a little magic into a Yuletide favorite. Plus, wouldn’t all holiday decorations be a bit better with a gaggle of blackbirds hanging around?

After learning this, most people’s reaction is the same, “What the hell is a calling bird then?”

To which I always reply, “An ostrich with bluetooth.”

So many people are confused by this response, that I’ve lost faith in humanity.

Thanks a lot Christmas.