12 Days of Christmas -Day 9

Day 9--Nine Ladies Dancing 

Shall we dance?

This particular day is pretty straight forward.   Ladies dancing were quite common at the parties and holidays.   Often the noblewomen would dance to entertain the gentlemen and I'm sure we've all scene these complicated yet beautiful performances in one movie or another.  Here is an example of one of the types of dance you might see during this time.  

It's so beautiful and elegant.  And yes, it is 

romantic too.  No wonder the giver in our song would send this gift.  But here's something I wonder.  Do you think they worried about their shoes the way we do today.  I bet they did I mean when doing all those fancy steps their feet would be in the spotlight and they would need to have the perfect little slipper or shoe to flatter their dress right?   So things haven't changed that much have they.   So guess what I'm going to share...  You got it fabulous shoes, nine pair to be exact.  Boots count as shoes right?  

Your Highness 

Ravishing in Red 

Say it with style and flash 

A bit wicked 

Out of this world 

You are a jewel

Everything that glitter IS gold! 

Classic and stylish 

Strappy and sexy 

12 Days of Christmas-Day 8

Day 8--Eight Maids a Milking 

Milk maids were ladies who were professional cow milkers and often helped make the other products such as cheese and butter.   It's interesting because the comment about the smoothness of a milkmaid's skin was based on some truth.  They were exposed to cowpox and so when small pox rampaged through the area they were not effected and their skin remained smooth and unmarked..  Hence the comment.    

Since we are talking about dairy and milk products I thought I would share some great recipes with ice cream as the main ingredient  Just click on the link under the picture for the recipe.   Enjoy ! 

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie 

 

Creamy Frozen Orange Squares 

Peppermint Ice Cream Cake 

Fudge Mint Torte 

Eggnog Ice Cream Dessert 

Pin`a Colada Frozen Dessert 

Creamy Orange Ice Cream Pie 

French Silk Ice Cream Roll 

12 Days of Christmas--Day 6

Day 6-Six Geese A'Laying 

A Golden Egg?

What could be that romantic about giving someone six geese much less six geese "A' Laying".  There is hardly anything online about this particular verse of the song but I was thinking maybe they mentioned  the geese laying eggs to represent fertility and birth.   So maybe the person giving the geese was wishing their true love a life of  being blessed and fertile.  That might be grasping a bit I'm not sure,  but I thought it sounded good! Anyway... I've decided to concentrate not on the "bird"  part of the story but on the egg.   Below are a variety of eggs  that may not be what the author had in mind,  but I'll take one of these over an old goose egg anytime!   

Faberge` Peacock Egg 

Faberge` Winter Egg 

Fabrege` Standart Egg 

Fabrege` Royal  Danish  Egg 

Fabrege` Revolving Egg 

Fabrege` Emperial Peter the Great Easter Egg 

12 Days of Christmas--Day 5

Day 5-Five Golden Rings 

If you like it, put a ring on it! 

This one is pretty straight forward right.  I mean what woman alive doesn't like getting jewelry of some sort from her true love.   And of course December is the most popular time of the year to propose in fact 26% of the proposals for the year at Christmas.  Talk about a great way to start a new year!   

Since we are talking about rings, and romance I think I'll share 5 romantic places to get away with your special someone.    

Cute and Cozy 

Warm and Sultry 

Sparkling Nights 

Imagination running wild 

Basking in the blue 

12 Days of Christmas-Day 4

Day 4-Four Calling Birds 

Call me - maybe?

The fourth day lyric seems to have come about because of a bit of a mix-up.   Originally the lyrics mentioned 4 "colly/collie" birds NOT "calling birds".   Of course to most of us that doesn't make any more sense than the modern "calling birds".   However, it might when I share a bit of trivia with you.   Colly/Collie refers to black birds.  Colly was a slang term to refer to black originating from the term used by coal miners.  Aren't you e going to be fount of trivia by the time we are done!  

Since I didn't really know or find anything too interesting on blackbirds I  think I'll share something in connection the the modern day lyric, Enjoy 

4 Free Christmas Ring Tones  (it works no subscription needed I tried them out)   

Silent Night 

Rockin` Around the Christmas Tree 

Christmas Bells 

Deck the Halls 

12 Days of Christmas -Day 2

Day 2--Two Turtle Doves 

Not much different from a pigeon ...hmm I don't think so 

So what in the world could be interesting about a turtle dove?    I don't know about you, but when I hear the word dove I imagine the white one with a green twig or branch in it's mouth.   You know the one they always  use for peace.  However,  there is a special trait turtle doves share and many believe it is as important as peace. Can you guess what it might be? If you guessed love then you are 100% right.   In fact Turtle Doves are quiet famous for being monogamous and forming life time bonds.  This is often the reason we will find them used as a symbol of love in literature and poetry.  So if  your someone special gave you two Turtle Doves he/she might be telling you they want to love you for a lifetime...I know kinda sappy huh,  but defiantly a special gift and of course perfect for us hopeless romantics.   

Since the turtle doves  represent true abiding and constant love I'm sharing  two  poems about love and of course the Turtle Dove is very present  

AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LOVE POEM 

I hear thy voice, O turtle dove-

The dawn is all aglow-

Weary am I with love, with love, 

Oh, whither shall I go? 

Not so, O beauteous bird above, 

Is joy to be denied...

For I have found my dear, my love;

And I am by his side. 

We wander forth, and hand in hand 

Through flowery ways we go-

I am the fairest in the land, 

For he has called me so.  

May First,  The Time for Love 

Late evening, on the first of May -

The twilit May - the time of love.Meltingly called the turtle-dove,Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay.Whispered of love the mosses trail,The flowering tree as sweetly lied,The rose's fragrant sigh repliedTo love-songs of the nightingale.In shadowy woods the burnished lakeDarkly complained a secret pain,By circling shores embraced again;And heaven's clear sun leaned down to takeA road astray in azure deeps,Like burning tears the lover weeps.

12 Days of Christmas

We all know the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" at least most of us do.  But have you ever wondered about the meaning ? I had NO idea of the controversy with the song when I started this article.   Apparently,  there is a huge urban legend around it which both Snopes and Urban Legends both dispute, but there are a lot of  other sites which mention each of the days gifts were hidden meanings representing something within Christianity and Catholicism.  Bet you didn't know that did you?   I sure didn't  I just wanted something fun to share - so rather than get bogged down in heavy controversy I'll just share a couple of links at the end of the article  and share a silly fact about each day in some form or fashion.

Day 1 --A Partridge in a Pear Tree 

There are 47 different types of partridges an MOST are considered endangered 

 


And now  on the first day of Christmas  my first share with you *drum roll*  is of course a fun version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"  by Straight No Chaser.   It's really worth the watch so take a minute or 3:30 to be exact and  enjoy.  

Articles: 

Meaning behind the 12 Days Of Christmas 

12 Days by Snopes 

12 Days Catholic History  

Urban Legends