12 Days of Christmas-Day 3

Day 3--Three French Hens 

French Chickens or French Chics?

Interesting enough the third day's gift isn't as straightforward as you might think.   There is very little known as to what the writer was actually referring.   The author could have meant an actual chicken from France of which there are many breeds,  one of them being the Faverolles  which are quite remarkable looking birds.  However, since it just refers to hens it seems a little ambiguous.  Did you know a female octopus and a female lobster were called hens?  Who knew! And doesn't that give us a really different visual  for the third day.   I'm going to stick with the idea of chickens because I just can't wrap my mind of giving an octopus  as a romantic gift... Yuck!  

Since I really  am not sure chickens are that interesting,  I decided to go with the option of sharing three things that are very French and definitely more interesting.   

Paris the City of Love

French and Fashion are synonymous aren't they ? 

C'est delicieux

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