12 Days of Christmas
For the first time this year, my family is delivering Twelve Days of Christmas Gifts to another family. The basic idea: consider a family that might need a little extra cheer this year. Then, starting on December 14th, for 12 days you anonymously deliver a small gift to that family, representing each day from the song. Then. On Christmas Day, you deliver the last gift in person — and if you're the caroling sort of family, you could sing the song as well.
My parents used to have my siblings do this when I was growing up, and I was reminded about it when I read my sister Rachel's post earlier this month. We loved it as children. And my kids are having a terrific time with it this year. There's something so magical about giving secret gifts.
Here's what we've given so far this year, and some alternate ideas as well from my sister and other sources. Note: I'm not too picky about how closely the gift ties in to the song. At the end of the day, it's fun to receive any small gift.
1st A partridge in a pear tree
We gave a small basket of beautiful pears. Pear flavored Jones soda would be cute as well.
2nd Two Turtle Doves
We gave two Dove chocolate bars, small bird ornaments would also work
3rd Three French Hens
We delivered a hot breakfast with 3 slices of French Toast. I also love the idea of 3 rolls of French wired ribbon or French milled soap.
4th Four Calling Birds
We took pics of yesterday's gift — we found some some small bird themed kitchen towels and a scrubber on sale at Target and paired them with pom pom birds from Martha's craft kit. Stationery (as in calling cards), or a bird call whistle would also be perfect.
5th Five Golden Rings
We're delivering this today — 5 round, gold, candles. Growing up, we always gave a can of pineapple rings. Five round ornaments — ball or snowflakes — would be good. Or even five gold bangles.
6th Six Geese a Laying
We're not sure what we're doing for this one. I like my sister's ideas for a breakfast cookbook and quiche. Or maybe we'll deliver a half dozen eggs. Another way to go is to pretend "laying" means sleeping and give a sleep mask or pillow or something rest related.
7th Seven Swans a Swimming
We're giving 7 bath fizzy balls.
8th Eight Maids a Milking
If we can find one, I'd like to deliver a bottle of fresh, local milk. Alternatively, I like the idea of hot cocoa and a mug.
9th Nine Ladies Dancing
We're thinking a DVD of the Nutcracker ballet.
10th Ten Lords a Leaping
The kids want to give an actual lordly looking Nutcracker for this one. Cozy socks or slippers is another good idea.
11th Eleven Pipers Piping
I found a snowglobe with 2 angels trumpeting. We plan to use that.
12th Twelve Drummers Drumming
A Christmas CD
Next year, to make things even easier, I'm thinking I'll buy a collection of 12 Days ornaments (like these gorgeous ones from Land of Nod that I linked to earlier) and deliver one each day.
One more note: when I take on something like this, I like to consider my strengths and weaknesses. I knew my biggest challenge would be having to load up all the kids each day to make the delivery. So to solve it, we chose to give to a widow down the street, so that my kids can make deliveries by foot.
Does your family do The Twelve Days of Christmas? What are your best 12-Days ideas?
Labels: holidays
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Thursday, December 18, 2008
23 Comments:
I like this idea I may have to start doing this!
Oh what fun! I did this growing up too and we're doing it for the first time as a family this year. It's been so fun.
For 5 golden rings, we gave doughnuts. Nine ladies dancing we're doing glowsticks...maybe too non-traditional for an older woman, but ha! It's the service that counts right?
You're creating such fun memories for your kids!
somebody actually did this for us when we were newlyweds, and it was so much fun we've copied the idea and done it every year since. We keep it small because it can get expensive, but here is our list:
1: a Christmas mug filled with pear jellybeans, and a stick with a picture of the Partridge family attached.
2: two dove chocolate bars with turtles taped to the front (i use clipart to find my turtles)
3: 3 french pens (3 pens with the french flag attached, again, clipart)
4: homemade christmas music cd
5: 5 krispy kreme doughnuts
6: 1/2 dozen eggs
7: when they did it to us they gave us 7 "swanson" TV dinners but we do blue finger jell-o in a throw-away pan and then do 7 oragami swans on top (put saran wrap on so the swans don't actually touch the jell-o). search google for oragami swans, they're very easy to do.
8: 1/2 gallon of chocolate milk (8 maids a-milking)
9: ladies dancing...for both 9 and 10 our people gave us t-shirts. this one was white with an iron-on of little girls dancing. i couldn't think of anything so i just give them nine of something, like candy-canes.
10: Lords a-leaping, this t-shirt was an iron-on of lord of the dance, again we couldn't think of anything so just gave them 10 of something (like 2 packs of little debbie snack cake christmas trees, there are 5 in each box)
11: eleven piping hot cookies (11 pipers piping)
12: 12 dum dum suckers (12 drummers drumming)
simple, but lots of fun, and rather inexpensive.
What a wonderful idea! It's clear that you've put a lot of thought into it and I'm sure all of the gifts are truly appreciated!
That is the most wonderful idea. I live on a Navy base so there are lots of people missing loved ones right now - what a nice way to spread some cheer.
Oh this is one of our favourite traditions and I am always looking for new ideas. Of course, yours are charming, thank you!
Here are some of ours..(we have always picked a family with kids, our ideas may not translate as well for a couple with no kids or a single adult)
For partridge in a pear tree this year I found a great tree at Goodwill and we decorated it with "pears" of socks and gloves which we knew the family needed. We have also gone the pear/pear cider route before.
2nd day: Dove chocolate and turtle chocolate
3rd day: Frozen french toast and fresh eggs in a pretty bowl-breakfast courtesy of the French, and the hens
4 calling birds. Gourmet popcorn with a note saying, 4 little birds told us you may enjoy this, don't forget to share some with them (we were desperate) have done calling cards in the past.
5 golden rings-5 glazed donuts
6 geese alaying-Golden (Ferroro Rocher) eggs. We have also given "a thick fleece for laying on" in the past
7 swans aswimming. I found little swan wedding favours baskets at the Dollar store. Planning to float them on a lake of blue jello with chocolate kisses in the Swan baskets.
8 maids a-milking. Dairy Milk chocolate, chocolate milk, and/or some fun cleaning supplies for the "maid".Cute feather duster etc.
9 ladies dancing-CD of dance music or nutcracker CD/DVD like you.
10 lords aleaping. Mexican jumping beans, jump rope, any kind of board game involving frogs or jumping..
11 Pipers piping. We have given a fun variety of pipe cleaners with instructions on how to make a pipe cleaner Nativity for families with young kids.
12 Drummers Drumming. Drumstick ice cream bars. Have also given a drumming nutcracker in the past.
Enjoy the rest of your giving! Thanks for your lovely, inspiring blog.
here is what I found from Lisa Bearson that she had posted last year:
Several of you asked for the other "12 Days of Christmas" ideas. Here they are and HUGE thanks to who our secret Santa was!
(Chocolate covered orange sticks)
"On the fifth day of Christmas
Chocolate covered orange things
Seemed like straightened golden rings"
(Hot chocolate)
"On the sixth day of Christmas
Geese are asleep. Snow's all around
A good time for hot chocolate
Drink it by the pound."
(Clementine oranges)
"On the seventh day of Christmas
A swan in the tropics reclines
Amidst the grapefruits, oranges
and juicy clementines."
(Chocolate milk)
"On the eighth day of Christmas
Eight maids went a milking
But with those Christmas cows
Chocolate milk was a flowing."
(Dried Mangos)
"On the ninth day of Christmas
Dancing ladies salute
They're in a festive mood
For some delicious dried fruit."
(English Toffee)
"On the tenth day of Christmas
English lords went a leaping
To and fro, high and low
It's English toffee they're seeking."
(Homemade Cookies)
"On the eleventh day of Christmas
Winter cold had pipers shaking
They'll warm by the fire
With cookies after baking."
(Cute snowman and Christmas Tree decorations)
"On the twelfth day of Christmas
We drummed right through our list
And after twelve gifts
We hope we will be missed."
"So have a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year too.
We are friends who think you're grand
But you'll never know who!"
Here is a simple one
1. ‘Twas the first of December and all through your house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Then suddenly one little soul did appear,
It’s your Christmas friends bringing holiday cheer.
Tonight calls for a partridge for your pear tree.
Partridges are tough catches, you see.
The bird flew the coop, leaving nothing behind
But some sweet Bartlett pears, the very best kind.
Now beware of this warning—your friends will be here,
But you better not look, or we’ll disappear.
Then all your gifts that were carefully planned,
On some other porch will surprisingly land.
Gift: can of Bartlett pears
2. Turtles and doves are coming your way;
Eat all the chocolate that you may.
Because in your family you have a few,
We’ve left on your doorstep more than just a two.
This glad Christmas season is so full of fun.
We’re happy to share with your family, then run.
How grateful we are that you’re playing our game.
You’ll now find that Christmas won’t be the same.
Gift: bag of dove chocolates and bag of turtle chocolates
3. Night three arrives, but we’re not in France,
And three French hens don’t come by chance.
It cost us a bundle to have it shipped,
the French hens insist that their soup be sipped.
Gift: family size can of chicken noodle soup
4. Four calling birds speak highly of you,
You’re kind and you’re thoughtful, generous, too.
They gave us a message over the phone
Saying, “Friends like you make us feel right at home.”
Gift: toy cell phone
5. On the fifth of December, with things rather tight,
It’s important to us that we all travel light.
Gold rings are too heavy (and not very yummy),
So please be content with sweet rings in your tummy.
Gift: bag of donut gems/rings
6. Six geese-a-laying—an interesting sight,
Till one of them squawked and they all took to flight.
What they left in their nest, you’ll just have to look,
A basket of eggs that you’ll sure want to cook.
Gift: carton/dozen eggs
7. ‘Tis the 7th of December and we’re halfway done.
Remember no peeking or you’ll spoil the fun.
Finding swans in December sure gave us some trouble.
But for clean and white feathers use a blend of bath bubbles.
Gift: bubble bath
8. On the eighth of December, we’re busy as bees.
Eight maids-a-milking, no where do we see.
But there in the barn we spy something now,
It’s the rich, creamy milk from a pretty brown cow.
Gift: gallon of chocolate milk
9. Nine ladies dancing would be a big crowd.
Besides their music is way too loud!
We have for you some Christmas songs,
To listen to all season long.
Gift: CD of Christmas music
10. Ten lords-a-leaping would be an awesome gift,
But they got stuck while jumping ore a big snowdrift.
You’ll have to be content, you see, to watch the popcorn fly,
And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, here’s a recipe to try.
Gift: bag of mini marshmallows, box of light or no butter microwave popcorn, recipe
Microwave Caramel Popcorn
1 C mini marshmallows
½ C lightly packed brownsugar
½ cube butter
1 package microwave popcorn
Combine marshmallows, brown sugar, and butter. Microwave on high for one minute then mix until smooth. Spoon over popped popcorn. Enjoy!
11. Eleven pipers piping reminds us of our plumber,
To leave him on the doorstep would be a real bummer.
Now make your water piping hot, and fill your cups with care.
We’re giving you some hot coca we know you’ll want to share.
We simply can’t believe that this game is almost through.
We’ve had a jolly time bringing all these gifts to you.
With only one more night left, don’t you wish you knew
Just exactly who we are and why we’re doing this for you?
Gift: box of hot chocolate
12. The final evening had arrived, and on our ending night.
One dozen drummers at your door would be a splendid sight.
But drummers are too noisy with their drums they’re always beating,
Instead we’ll let you softly drum your ice cream as you’re eating.
In the end we wish you a Merry Christmas.
We’re guessing you’d like an announcement from us,
But our names stay a secret; we just cannot share.
It’s the kindness of strangers that really is rare.
Gift: box of drumstick ice cream cones
I love this idea! Maybe next year...
This is a wonderful idea!!!
For the Christmas CD might I suggest Mary's Lullaby. It's perfect.
Buy here: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5978729
See commentary here: http://ourwileyways.blogspot.com/2008/12/nice-bit-of-recognition.html
We are also doing the 12 days of Christmas this year (we don't have kids yet, it's just the two of us). My husband always did this when he was little and they started at 12 and went to 1. And on each day you give that number of something. Our favorite so far was day 9 when we burned a CD with 9 Christmas songs and I hand-made the cover.
pretty cool.
I tried to send a package from santa to someone today but the post office made me put my return address on it! so much for surprises!
This will be our tradition, oh yes it will. Love Emily's funny take on it.
Ooh, hey- just learned on snopes that the fourth day is really "colly" as in coal-black birds and the fifth's five golden rings refers to ring-necked birds like pheasants. So you could really run with the bird thing...
I have never heard of this before. What a great tradition!
what a great post. it might be too pricey, but Williams Sonoma has 12 days of Christmas items now, napkins, plates, even party crackers. you could wrap each gift in the napkin of the day.
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/gift/thm/RipX/index.cfm?dynlink=xms&cm_type=gnav
thanks for sharing all your ideas. i will have to keep them handy for next year.
I got a Natavity Scene and have been delivering one piece a day. The baby Jesus will be the last piece and we will reveal ourselves that day. This would only work for a Christian friend, obviously, but a lady from our Church congregation's husband left her last Christmas, so we decided to do this for her.
I'm so glad you did this post. I can't wait to add all these ideas to my ideas list for next year!
Don't the twelve days of Christmas usually start on Christmas and go until Epiphany? The 12th of December seems kind of arbitrary.
This is such a wonderful idea. I'm going to do it next year!
This brings back the memories of years ago doing this and remembering that we dropped off the gift on the doorstep and ran to jump in the jeep and then getting pulled over by a policeman!!! it really was quite funny.
I just found your blog adn I love this idea... I had neer heard of this before! Thanks for sharing it! I will definatly be doing this with my boys next year. There are so many people we could bless with htis, I may just get a group of gals together who want to do it and brainstorm together. Your readers also have soem great suggestions.
Post a Comment
<< Home