The 12 Days of Christmas? That'll Cost You a Record $101,119.84 (The Atlantic)

Unfortunately for very literal Christmas carolers, 2011 was the most expensive year yet for following the shopping instructions of that traditional carol “The 12 Days of Christmas.” This year, the so-called Christmas Price Index hit a record $24,263 … and that’s not even the “true cost of Christmas.” As you’ll recall, the rather endless song requires your true love to purchase 364 total gifts, including not one partridge but 12, not two turtledoves but 22, and so on. The true cost of Christmas comes out to a rather staggering $101,119 and 84 cents, to be precise, with the most pricey investments being six geese (a-laying) and eight maids (a-milking), each totaling about $6,300 per set.