| Tim and Lisa 2004-12-28, 7:07 pm |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas--the days linking Christmas on December 25 and
the Epiphany on January 6 (when the three Magi offered the first Christmas
presents--gold, frankincense, and myrrh) were declared a festal tide
(religious holiday) by the Council of Tours in 567. Since then it has been
a time when noble and peasant alike put work aside and enjoyed an extended
holiday of feasting, celebration, and sharing with others. It was
considered bad luck to enter someone's house empty-handed.
The ancient counting song named for this religious holiday is actually quite
pagan in tone and is the only carol we know that celebrates, in the form of
a list, the Christmas tradition of gift-giving. It is said to date back to
a thirteenth century manuscript in the Library of Trinity College,
Cambridge, England. The carol appeared in print for the first time in a
children's book entitled, "Mirth Without Mischief," published in London
about 1780.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" became very popular as a game song--usually
played at a large gathering of children and adults on the Twelfth Day night,
just before the eating of mince pie. With the company seated all around the
room, the leader of the game began by singing the first day lines, which
were then repeated by each of the company in turn. Then the first day lines
were repeated with the addition of the second day lines by the leader, and
this was repeated by all in turn. This continued until all the lines of the
twelve days were repeated by everyone. If anyone missed a line, they would
have to forfeit something of theirs to the group.
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