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Erica Sanchez
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| Posted: Dec 22 2014 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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I came to search for ideas for small gifts to give a special (hurting) family this 12 Days of Christmas and I found this old thread with a link to an old Mary G. blog post with everything laid out beautifully!
Has anyone else done this and have additional ideas?
Thank you, Mary M.!
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Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
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MaryM
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| Posted: Dec 23 2014 at 2:13am | IP Logged
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Well we have done it multiple times and honestly each year is a bit different  - it depends on what we can find in stores, what I already have around the house, how much I can spend, etc. And there are variations on the verses of the song in the last 4 (like where they place the dancers, drummers, pipers, lords) so it can be changed up.
Some things we do consistently because they are easy - 8 maids a milking hot chocolate mixes, clementines for the "Fruits of the spirit" which is listed as the 9th day, sparkling cider on New Years Eve, and the reveal puzzle on last day. Other than that, there is often a lot of variation. I wish I could remember everything we have done. Sometimes it plays off the literal lyrics of the poem and sometimes off the suggested hidden Christian message. If you give me some specifics with this family I would brainstorm with you.
Some other things I can remember giving:
1st day: (partridge = Jesus on cross) - crucifix, nativity set from Oriental Trading
2nd day: (two turtledoves = Old and New Testaments) - "Dove" chocolates, bookmarks, religious book
3rd day: (three French hens = the Holy Trinity) - gift certificate for Sonic/McD's or someplace that sells French fries
4th day: (four calling birds = number of Gospels in the New Testament) - bookmarks, religious book
5th day: (five golden rings = the first five books of the Old Testament) - plastic rosaries
6th day: (six geese a laying = the six days of creation) - treats inside of plastic eggs
7th day: (seven swans a-swimming = seven gifts of the Holy Spirit)
8th day: (eight maids a milking = number of Beatitudes)
9th day: (nine drummers drumming = fruits of the Spirit) - CD of Christmas music (make sure it has Little Drummer Boy)
10th day: (ten ladies dancing = ten commandments)
11th day: (eleven pipers piping = faithful apostles) - plastic flutes or party horns from party story
12th day: (twelve lords a leaping = the 12 beliefs of the Catholic Church as stated in the Apostles' Creed) - pop up toys like springy frogs or rubber poppers
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Mary M. in Denver
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MaryM
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| Posted: Dec 29 2014 at 12:20am | IP Logged
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I would add that you can also throw in gifts that connect to the feast days during this time (instead of ones associated with the song or the Christian representation):
26th - St. Stephen - traditions include helping those in need and treats for the animals, sleigh rides & visiting neighbors so if you can figure out something to do that fits that
27th - St. John Evangelist - bottle of wine (for Mom & Dad )
28th - Holy Innocents - something representing purity like snowflake stickers or ornaments
29th - St. Thomas Becket - something English like maybe English Toffee
30th -
31st - St. Sylvester
1st - Mary Mother of God - something Marian, statue, picture, etc.
2nd - St. Basil the great - basil
3rd - Holy Name - Jesus name sign
4th - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - anything education oriented, book
5th - St. John Neumann - again could be anything education oriented
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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| Posted: Dec 29 2014 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
I would add that you can also throw in gifts that connect to the feast days during this time (instead of ones associated with the song or the Christian representation):
26th - St. Stephen - traditions include helping those in need and treats for the animals, sleigh rides & visiting neighbors so if you can figure out something to do that fits that
27th - St. John Evangelist - bottle of wine (for Mom & Dad )
28th - Holy Innocents - something representing purity like snowflake stickers or ornaments
29th - St. Thomas Becket - something English like maybe English Toffee
30th -
31st - St. Sylvester
1st - Mary Mother of God - something Marian, statue, picture, etc.
2nd - St. Basil the great - basil
3rd - Holy Name - Jesus name sign
4th - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - anything education oriented, book
5th - St. John Neumann - again could be anything education oriented
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Lovely ideas, MaryM! I'm just not into the Catholic interpretation (catechism) of the 12 Days song. It's been proven to be something written in the 1980s or so. It's nice, but it's so contrived to me, so I prefer this idea.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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MaryM
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| Posted: Dec 30 2014 at 1:12am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
| I'm just not into the Catholic interpretation (catechism) of the 12 Days song. It's been proven to be something written in the 1980s or so. It's nice, but it's so contrived to me, so I prefer this idea. |
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It has taken me awhile to find my place with this, too, as I have gone back and forth - not wanting to promote an idea that isn't accurate but also liking the representation. We have found it fun to link the numbers to something of faith - whether it is contrived or not - they still work to be linked - sort of like a Christian/Catholic counting book. Which is all to say, what works best for us it to just make a big jumble of connections between all of it (the song images, number connections in our Faith, Feast Days that fall in the 12 day period). The song is the most recognizable way to remind us that there are twelve days of Christmas because it is so culturally recognized, so we use it as a starting point for our gift giving.
Something this year that I read (maybe saw it before but it didn't sink in) was this possible connection of the urban legend of the song's origin possibly being linked to an older song. There is a song form the 1600's that does reference the 12 days of Christmas with counting connections to aspects of faith - it was a spiritual song. To me it makes sense that somehow this is where the whole 1980/90's story developed from.
A New Dial (An almanack from 1625, in the Bagford Collection contains this song) - many of what they list for the 12 days are the same as in the urban legend version. I think it is all really intriguing and fun to search for more.
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Mary M. in Denver
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas
