Written by group members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland along with Errol McCalla Jr., who handled its production, it is a Christmas-themed song with heavy R&B and dance pop elements.

The song was first released in November 2000 on the reissue of the group's second studio album The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and the US maxi CD single for their song "Independent Women Part I" (2000), before being released as the lead single from 8 Days of Christmas on December 16, 2001, by Columbia Records.

[1][2] Knowles stated during its video premiere at the BET countdown format 106 & Park in 2001: "Actually, we wrote the song two years ago, when we went in the studio to do some Christmas something.

[8] Raffy Ermac of Pride Magazine described it as " a fun, sexy spin on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which "instead of true love giving you useless things, [...] Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle are getting showered with gifts .

"[9] Maura Johnston of Vulture wrote that the song "shows off Destiny’s Child innovative approach to pop-R&B", prising the "dizzying pre-chorus and jubilant refrain to the original’s day-by-day rundown" and the "collective prowess on a fluttering bridge".