FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 42 THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

 

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule, and I have a short list of personal favorites.

Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my forty second selection.

 

“The Twelve Days Of Christmas”

A traditional folk melody by English composer Frederic Austin

Performed by The Spinners

 

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me

A partridge in a pear tree

 

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

 

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Seven Swans A-swimming

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Eight Maids A-milking

Seven Swans A-swimming

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Nine Ladies Dancing

Eight Maids A-milking

Seven Swans A-swimming

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Ten Lords A-leaping

Nine Ladies Dancing

Eight Maids A-milking

Seven Swans A-swimming

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Eleven Pipers Piping

Ten Lords A-leaping

Nine Ladies Dancing

Eight Maids A-milking

Seven Swans A-swimming

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Twelve Drummers Drumming

Eleven Pipers Piping

Ten Lords A-leaping

Nine Ladies Dancing

Eight Maids A-milking

Seven Swans A-swimming

Six Geese A-laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR

The star is eternally linked to Christmas and takes pride of place at the very top of the Christmas tree.

When we look at the star we should recall the star seen 'in the East' by the three wise men.

On Christmas Eve In ceremonies all over the world the Christmas celebration begins with the arrival of the first star.

In various traditional ceremonies from Poland to Alaska the Festival of the Star is celebrated in various forms.

The Christmas star is a powerful symbol to Christians in the Bible it is called "the bright and morning star."

THE FAMILY USED TO LIVE IN LOS ANGLES

 

The family used to live in Los Angles

Until just a few year ago

But we moved to Santa Monica

Because dad is Christmas crazy

And we had to live somewhere

That begins with the word "Santa."

VISITING ETHOS

Santa Claus definitely

Has the right idea

When he only visits

People once a year

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE

 

The enchanting village of Gladbury lies deep in the heart of the English countryside, however it is no ordinary English village for legend has it that every 25 years an angel visits the village candle maker and touches a single candle in the Chandlers.

Furthermore, whoever lights the blessed candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve.

At the dawn of the electric age however in 1890, the centuries old legend might have run its course and come to an end.

Especially when David Richmond (Hans Matheson), a progressive young minister, arrives in Gladbury.

The villagers discover that he preaches about a different kind of miracles, and his formula consists of good deeds and acts of kindness.

However, David's quest to modernize Gladbury sets him at odds with the old-world Chandler Edward Haddington (Sylvester McCoy) but he finds an unlikely ally in the lovely sceptic, Emily Barstow (Samantha Barks).

David also tries to replace the candles in the church with electric light but things go amiss while the Chandlers wife Bea Haddington (Lesley Manville) is unable to find the Christmas Candle.

So when the candle maker fights to preserve the legacy of the Christmas Candle and David Richmond tries to embrace modernization, the miraculous and human collide in the most astonishing Christmas the village of Gladbury have ever witnessed.

CHRISTMAS CANDLES – A SIGN

There is a popular belief that candles are used at Christmas as a remembrance of people at the time of Jesus Christ's birth.

These people are said to have put lighted candles in their windows as a signal to Mary and Joseph that they would be welcome in their homes.

THE CHRISTMAS CAKE

 

Christmas fruit cake is derived from the famous English Christmas or plum pudding.

The recipe was much simpler with fewer ingredients although it included large quantities of candied fruit, raisins, dates and nuts and is generally prepared long in advance of Christmas and is liberally laced with Brandy.

Like plum pudding it would originally have been flaming when served but in time this changed and soon the cakes were being decorated with marzipan and icing instead.