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Archive for the 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Category

Contents

Does Anyone Know of Hand Gestures That Go with the 12 Days of Christmas?

The Epiphany, Kings Day and King’s Cake with MP3 of “J’aime la galette”

New Zealand’s “Twelve Days of Christmas – A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree “

The Australian “Twelve Days of Christmas”

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Posts

Does Anyone Know of Hand Gestures That Go with the 12 Days of Christmas?

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

Rich Berrett wrote:

Growing up I recall hearing the 12 days of Christmas accompanied by hand gestures for each day… when I googled that issue it referred me to your site with this notation.. “The Twelve Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas and go up to the …. As with many children’s songs, there are different hand gestures that can be. . .” when I went to the link however I cannot find the remainder of the entry… I would love to find the gestures to teach my grandchildren. Any suggestions? Thanks for all you do. Rich

I think the Google entry must have been referring to two different blog posts.

Would anyone know of gestures that go with the 12 Days of Christmas? I’d love to learn them too!

Please comment below if you can help out. Thanks in advance!

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Australia, British Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Finger Plays, Great Britain, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Questions, Readers Questions, The Twelve Days of Christmas, USA | 2 Comments »

The Epiphany, Kings Day and King’s Cake with MP3 of “J’aime la galette”

Wednesday, January 4th, 2006

The Twelve Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas and go up to the Epiphany, on January 6th.

Here’s the legend: The Three Wise Men saw the star of Bethlehem on the day Jesus was born. It took them the time between Christmas and the Epiphany to find Jesus and present him with the gifts. Epiphany literally means manifestation. Thus, the Epiphany is the manifestation of Christ to the Three Kings.

In France, January 6th is also called La fête des rois or Kings Day.

Since the Middle Ages, in celebration of the Epiphany, French people have Galettes des Rois. Galette des Rois is called King’s Cake in English. In the north of France it’s a round cake with an almond/butter filling called frangipane. In the south of France, King’s Cake is called a royaume and is made in the shape of a ring, representing a crown, and topped with glazed fruit and icing. Hidden inside the King’s Cake is a small trinket called a fève. Whoever finds the fève is given a paper crown and gets to be king or queen for the day!

Here’s a song called J’aime la galette, or I Love Cake, in French and with an English translation and sung by Monique’s first grade class…

MP3 of J’aime la galette – I Love Cake!

J’aime la galette
(French)

J’aime la galette,
Savez-vous comment ?
Quand elle bien faite
Avec du beurre dedans.
Trala la la la la la la lère,
Tra la la la la la la la la,
Tra la la la la la la la lère,
Tra la la la la la la la la.

I Love Cake
(English)

I love cake,
Do you know how?
When it’s made well,
With butter inside!
Tra la la la la la la la lère,
Tra la la la la la la la la,
Tra la la la la la la la lère,
Tra la la la la la la la la.

It’s interesting to note that the tradition of eating King’s Cake is also followed in New Orleans in the U.S. There, King’s cake is a ring cake made with cinnamon dough and topped with icing. The icing is purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.

King’s Cake is eaten in New Orleans throughout the Mardi Gras season, which begins on the Epiphany. A small baby, representing Jesus, is hidden inside the New Orleans version of King’s Cake. Whoever finds the baby is supposed to have good luck.

Recipe for Galettes des Rois in English.

Here’s a recipe in French… Gâteau des rois

Many thanks to Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français for pointing out the tradition of Galettes des Rois in France, and to Monique’s class for the wonderful recording of J’aime la galette.

Happy Fête des Rois!

Lisa

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World France page for more French children’s songs with their English translations and…

Mama Lisa’s World en français for children’s songs around the world with their French translations.

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Desserts, Epiphany, France, French, French Kids Songs, Galettes des Rois or Kings Cake, Holidays Around the World, J'aime la galette - I Love Cake!, J'aime la galette mp3, La fête des rois or Kings Day, Languages, MP3 Recordings, Recipe Links, Recipes of the World, Recordings of Songs, The Twelve Days of Christmas, USA | 2 Comments »

New Zealand’s “Twelve Days of Christmas – A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree “

Friday, December 9th, 2005

Here’s the annotated version of A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree – with definitions of the words below the song…

A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree
(The 12 Days of Christmas)

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A pukeko in a ponga tree

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree

On the third day of Christmas…

and so on, until…

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve piupius swinging
Eleven haka lessons
Ten juicy fish heads
Nine sacks of pipis
Eight plants of puha
Seven eels a swimming
Six pois a twirling
Five – big – fat – pigs!
Four huhu grubs
Three flax kits
Two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree!

Here’s a photo of a pukeko…

Here are the definitions…

Pukeko = type of bird found in NZ
Ponga Tree = a fern tree that grows in NZ
Kumera = a yellow sweet potato with a purple inside core
Piuspius = a skirt made from strips of flax. They look like hula skirts. They’re worn by the Maori (indigenous people of NZ) during certain dances and special celebrations.
Haka = war chant/dance
Pipis = small shellfish
Puha = a type of sow thistle that is eaten as a vegetable in NZ
Pois = Maori word for ball – they’re two balls on the end of two ropes and they’re twirled around making patterns during some Maori dances
Huhu = a small edible grub or beetle found in NZ

Many thanks to John Archer of New Zealand Folk Song for sending me this song. Ka pai!

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World New Zealand Page for more Songs from New Zealand!

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Posted in A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree, Children's Songs, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Maori, New Zealand, New Zealand Children's Songs, Songs by Theme, The Twelve Days of Christmas | 10 Comments »

The Australian “Twelve Days of Christmas”

Sunday, November 27th, 2005

Here is the Australian version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. All 12 are animals…

On the First Day of Christmas
(Australian Version)

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me…

1. An emu up a gum tree.
2. Two pink galahs.
3. Three jabirus.
4. Four kookaburras.
5. Five kangaroos.
6. Six platypuses.
7. Seven koalas climbing.
8. Eight possums playing.
9. Nine wombats working.
10. Ten lizards leaping.
11. Eleven numbats nagging.
12. Twelve parrots prattling

Many thanks to Andrew for sending me this song.

Here are some links to see photos of these animals…

Unique Australian Animals Photos

Australian Photographs – Click on “Animal Photos”

Come visit The Mama Lisa’s World Australia page for more Australian Songs.

More Christmas Songs from Around the World Coming Soon!

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Posted in Australia, Australian Kids Songs, Australian Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Songs by Theme, The Australian 12 Days of Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas | 3 Comments »

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Saturday, November 26th, 2005

Here’s a Christmas Song to help start off the season…

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Twelve lords a-leaping,
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you have an enjoyable season.

Best wishes,

Lisa

P.S. More Christmas Songs from Around the World Coming Soon!

The illustration is from The Sleeping Beauty Picture Book, illustrated by Walter Crane.

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Posted in Christmas, Christmas Songs, English, Great Britain, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Songs by Theme, The Twelve Days of Christmas, USA | No Comments »

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