The Price of True Love
Published Dec 24, 2002
The price of giving all the items bestowed by the "true love" of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" may be a little beyond most people's budget. The following costs were calculated for 1998, based upon a report issued in 1995 by PNC Bank Corp., assuming an annual rate of inflation of 2.5 percent:
1. Partridge in a pear tree $38
2. Turtle doves $54
3. French hens $16
4. Calling birds $302
5. Gold rings $485
6. Geese-a-laying $162
7. Swans-a-swimming $7,538
8. Maids-a-milking $37
9. Pipers piping $2,807
10. Ladies dancing $3,245
11. Lords-a-leaping $1,194
12. Drummers drumming $1,293
Total to give gifts once: $17,170
Total to give as in song*: $78,986
* Singing the song in its entirety results in 364 presents:
The partridge is given 12 times, two doves 11 times (22 total), etc., etc., etc...
Originally published December 25, 2002.
