We are only two days away from the conclusion of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and it has certainly been an enlightening experience for me to journey through this song. Finding new inspirations for the various boards has also been a lot of fun. So let’s enjoys the final days.
The religious interpretation is quite predictable, and in some ways actually ties well into the other views. Since the eleven faithful apostles who followed Jesus spread his message after his death, there is a natural correlation between pipers, who announce information and these followers. You may be saying to yourself that there were 12 apostles, but remember, only 11 were faithful, one betrayed him.
Sitting around, watching your sheep was a pretty boring job. So, shepherds often would play their pipes. It is believed that on the night Jesus was born, shepherds were playing. There is also a rumor that while Rome burned, Nero wasn’t fiddling, rather playing the bagpipes!
By the 9th century, the bagpipe was the instrument for all medieval celebrations. This music had only one single line of melody, which suited the bagpipe quite nicely, especially for dances called caroles.
At the big feasts held during the holiday celebrations the guests were often entertained by musicians, dancers, jugglers, etc. as well as singing and dancing themselves. Bagpipes and their younger cousins the musette (an instrument similar to a bagpipe but the air for the sound came from bellows rather than blowing into the instrument) were popular instruments for dance music. While we usually associate the bagpipe with Scotland, they were also a common instrument in France as well. In France, the bagpipe was popular as an accompaniment for dance. Many French musicians often played the musette as entertainment for Twelfth Night celebrations. Since Queen Elizabeth I was succeeded by the Stuart kings of Scotland, bagpipes and other aspects of Scots culture were common among the upper classes in England as were elements of French culture due to intermarriage of the English and French nobility.
| Bride, photographer W. Scott Chester; décor, Walters & Walters; Scottish horseshoe, The Irish Jewelry Company; bride & groom, Church Times; bridesmaids, Linda Cliford; boutonnière, Dream Time; navy dress 1, House of Brides; navy dress 2, Alvina Valenta; bride and groom, Scottish Weddings made simple; bow shoes by French designer Alexis Mabille,; ring bearer, Photographer: Paul McVitty |
And for you who feel cheated that there are no bagpipes in our imagination board!
Adding spice to your life,
Lia
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Ten Lords a-Leaping . . .
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Nine Ladies Dancing . . .
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Eight Maids a-Milking . . .
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Seven Swans a-Swimming . . .
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Six Geese a-Laying . . .
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Five Golden Rings . . .
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Four Colly Birds . . .
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Three French Hens . . .
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Two Turtle Doves . . .
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, A Partridge in a Pear Tree . . .