If the lyrics to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” are currently running through your head due to the title of this blog, we apologize.
The next 13 blog posts will feature R Dub and Beth’s 12 Nonconsecutive Days of Christmas!
Many people mistakenly confuse December 14th as the first day of the 12 days of Christmas. Most of us prefer to build up to the holiday with December 25th becoming the climax of the advent season.
Informed Christians know that the 12 days of Christmas actually start with the birth of Jesus and run through the coming of the Magi twelve days later. The twelfth day is known as the Epiphany or the Three Kings’ Day…but we digress.
While many of us are Christian, most of us are not informed Christians and learned everything we need to know about the twelve days of Christmas by the popular song of the same name published in England in the year 1780. The origins are thought to be French as an a Capella chant. The “Twelve Days of Christmas” that we are all familiar with was arranged by English composer Frederic Austin in 1909.
While this list of gifts (except for the 5 golden rings delivered in days 5 through 12) may not be everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ outside of the farming community, it certainly is an extravagant list even by today’s standards. The price tag for all of these items is in excess of $40,000 by 2019 prices. Due to today’s runaway inflation and supply chain challenges it would cost even more…and most of the items might not arrive in time…
As empty nest parents and better the second time around partners we struggled for a few years to enjoy the Christmas season. Oh, we both brought traditions and decorations and ornaments to the party. However, they were yours and mine decorations and traditions. We needed something that was ours. Enter the 12 Nonconsecutive Days of Christmas.
Why nonconsecutive? Due to work schedules mostly, we see each other 3 to 4 days per week. So on the days that we do enjoy each other’s company prior to Christmas, we exchange gifts. Usually leading up to Christmas, but sometimes after Christmas if we do not get them all in before December 25.
The rules are simple. The size or cost of the gift is unimportant. We trade off days. A total of 12 gifts, 6 from R Dub to Beth and vice versa.
Not all of the 12 Days of Christmas giving are decorations or ornaments, but many have been and slowly we are decorating the house to look like our very own holiday home.
Day 1 started prior to Thanksgiving, but we are posting them consecutively beginning December 14, 2021. We hope you enjoy us sharing our little tradition.
The tradition has brought joy and anticipation back to the Holiday for us, and we cherish it.
Ron's Ramblings 