December 25 starts the 12 days of Christmas,
Christmastide or Twelvetide. So in my world the Christmas season has really
just begun. Here is a little back story on the season.
Day 1 the birth of Jesus.
December 26 is day 2. This is known as
St. Stephens Day. It is known as the feasting day of St. Stephen Protomartyr. Protomartyr- the first Christian to shed his
blood rather than to deny his faith in Christ; Proto from the Greek protos or
first and martyr for martus - Greek for witness.
Gifts can be given on each of the twelve
days that correspond to wishes for each month in the year. For example on day
two I will give a candle as a wish for light and warmth during the cold winter
month of February.
The song was created as a memory game
for entertainment. And you repeated all the verses as it was your turn and then
added a verse. The first person to get the order and the gift wrong paid a
forfeit of a kiss or a sweet or gift.
The song was first published in 1780.
There are different versions some adding hounds-a-hunting, ships-a-sailing, or
cocks-a-crowing.
I found a version that has a “Very
pretty peacock upon a pear tree” Which is much more colorful.
I wish you all a very Happy 2nd
day of Christmas!
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