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12 Days of Christmas

12 days of christmas

I've taken the 12 Days of Christmas to the next level!! Started by my mom years ago, we recreate the classic 12 Days of Christmas rhymes with our own (often trying to rhyme or assimilate the original) and gift accordingly.

Of course as a researcher, I had to Google the origin of the 12 days of Christmas...
The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a festive Christian season to celebrate the nativity of Jesus. In most Western Church traditions Christmas Day is the First Day of Christmas and the Twelve Days are 25 December-5 January. The traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas have been largely forgotten in the United States. Contributing factors include the popularity of stories by Charles Dickens in nineteenth-century America (with their emphasis on generous gift-giving), introduction of more secular traditions over the past two centuries (such as the American Santa Claus), and the rise in popularity of New Year's Eve parties. The first day of Christmas actually terminates the Christmas marketing season for merchants, as shown by the number of "after-Christmas sales" that launch on 26 December. The commercial calendar has encouraged an erroneous assumption that the Twelve Days end on Christmas Day and must therefore begin on 14 December.

I concur! I began mine on 16 December though because I wanted the 10th day to fall on Christmas Day ~ the BIG gift. This is such a fun game for a couple, friends, or even Secret Santa! You can get super creative and find gifts at the Dollar Tree, make gifts, or regift. The goal is to be creative and unique for your recipient. Let's get started!!...

On the 1st day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me (you can also say, "My best friend gave to me" or "Someone gave to me") SAUSAGE AND CRACKERS PAIRED WITH CHEESE. A Hickory Farms gift box/basket is perfect for this, or you can put together your own! 

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On the 2nd Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: TWO CHOCOLATE DOVES
This one speaks for itself. But any Dove or Turtle gift will do!
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On the 3rd Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: THREE FRESH BUNS
You can get really creative with this one too since three, french, and hens are such easy words to rhyme. Just be gifty to your recipient. Mine likes lunch at Subway ;) 
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On the 4th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: FOR DRAWING WORDS
As a pilot generating charts and flight details, Luca mostly uses pencils. I thought this was so cute for work and so no one steals his pencils, ha!
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On the 5th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: FIVE GOLDEN THINGS
You can get creative with this one too since there are SO many "things" out there that are gold. 
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On the 6th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: SIX PIECE FOR GROOMING
How lucky that I found a little groom kit that was 6 pieces!? Eh, maybe he'll never use it, but it worked and it was cute, and cheap!
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On the 7th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: CHRISTMAS PANTS FOR SLEEPING
Hey! You try rhyming Seven Swans A' Swimmin! And when you do, please share with me what it is because I was stumped!
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On the 8th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: EIGHT MADE FOR MILKIN'
Get it?! Get it?! 8 MADE for milking'!?! Like my play on words?! You can gift their favorite cookies! Or make them cookies!! 
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On the 9th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: ITALIAN BUBBLE DANCING
This was PERFECT for our arrival day in California. Another idea: WINE __ ___. 
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On the 10th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: GARMIN TIME FOR KEEPING
This was his big gift which is why I started the 12 days on an unusual day; I wanted this to be opened on Christmas day. And guess what!? He loved it CHEERS!
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On the 11th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: BOURBON FOR SIPPING
Again with my rhyming issues (eye roll). The last two days were about making memories though so an easy Bourbon to carry along with us was a nice touch.
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On the 12th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me: DRUMMERS DRUMMING
Although it should have been symphony rocking! Have you heard Mannheim Steamroller?! They're so good! I won't mention that we accidentally left the cd in the rental car when we left. Oh no! LOL!
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So THAT my friends, is the 12 days of Christmas. I hope this inspires you and you TOO share 12 special days with a special someone. Remember to be creative about the gift drop off too! If it's a Secret Santa, leave them in secret places, put together a scavenger hunt, or have different people deliver the gifts each day. I promise, no matter how you do it, your recipient is going to LOVE the 12 Days of Christmas gifts!!! ;) ;)