December 11, 2006 2:39 PM
Surprise a friend with the 12 Days of Christmas
I love passing on stuff from my readers!
Hi Barbara,We did this last year with our kids and we had a BLAST surprising 2 of our neighbors! SO I thought I'd share it with you and if you want to share it with your readers, please do. :)
The 12 Days of Christmas- a fun twist! Here is a "ring and run" activity to do with the children. Buy the items listed below, make their tags, and start dropping them off, one each day of course, to a special friend starting on December 13. Do this after dark and don't get caught. Suggestion: Create a shoebox present for the items to be left in. Combine days 8 and 9 and deliver the ice cream with the cookies.
What you’ll need: Canned or fresh pears, 2 travel-sized bars of Dove soap & chocolate-covered peanut "turtles", chicken noodle soup and French bread, either a pre-paid phone card or message pad, pineapple rings or butterscotch life savers, dozen grade A eggs, bubble bath, ice cream, Christmas music, 10 candy canes OR small stocking with small candy, New Year’s Eve horn OR hot Cocoa, and a plate of cookies.
FIRST DAY: ""On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree." It seems that the partridge has flown away & we really hated to cut down the tree, so here are some pears." (canned or fresh pears)
SECOND DAY: "On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two turtle doves..." We weren’t sure what “turtle doves” were so here are two doves and some turtles." (2 travel-sized bars of Dove soap & chocolate-covered peanut "turtles")
THIRD DAY: "On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three French hens..." We couldn’t catch the French hens, but we “caught” a couple of cans of Chicken Noodle soup and thought we’d serve it with some French bread. (chicken noodle soup and French bread).
FOURTH DAY: ""On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four calling birds..." The calling birds called, they are snowed-in at O’Hare. Please accept this substitute." (either a pre-paid phone card or message pad)
FIFTH DAY: "On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, five gold rings!" Yeah, but have you seen the price of gold lately? We hope you’ll enjoy these “golden rings” instead." (pineapple rings or butterscotch life savers)
SIXTH DAY: "On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six geese a-laying..." Apparently the geese have flown south for the winter. We didn’t think you wanted a houseful of geese anyway. How about some eggs that were a-laid?" (basket of grade A eggs)
SEVENTH DAY: "On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven swans a-swimming..." It’s really too cold for swimming so the swans have been taking nice hot bubble baths." (bubble bath)
EIGHTH DAY: "On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight maids a-milking..." We couldn’t fit eight cows on your doorstep so here’s a little something the maids gave us." (ice cream picture – real ice cream to be delivered with cookies on day 12)
NINTH DAY: "On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine ladies dancing..." The ladies have a gig at Rockefeller Center through January but here’s some Christmas music you can dance to if you like." (Christmas music)
TENTH DAY: "On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten lords a-leaping..." Can you believe it? All ten lords a-leaping pulled muscles last year and vowed to give it up entirely. They did kindly send their canes in case you decide to try it." (candy canes) OR Give small stocking with small small hard tack candy, sm. candy cane, cherry lifesavers.
The ten lords-a-leapin'
Were really leaping fast.
In fact, when I arrived there,
They'd all passed but the last.
I tried to catch up anyway,
The result was rather shocking.
Nine got away, but that's okay
I caught the tenth one's stocking.The count down's coming fast, you know
Just two more nights to go
But if perchance you'll not be home
Please check the box below
We'd hate to miss the moment
So if you've plans to leave
Please indicate and let us know
You'll be gone on Christmas Eve.
___ We'll be home 'til ________ p.m.
___ We won't be home at all.ELEVENTH DAY: "On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping..." . This is to be served “piping” hot." (apple cider or hot cocoa mix)
OR Give New Year's eve horn
Eleven pipers piping
Are really hard to find,
And so we bring this pipe to you
So you can blow it anytime.
Eleven nights are down,
There's just one more to go
Tomorrow evening, if you're nice
Our faces we will show.TWELFTH DAY: "On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming..." We really didn’t think you wanted twelve drummers drumming in your house so we drummed-up some cookies for you. Hope they keep your day from being hum-"drum". Merry Christmas!" (plate of cookies)
Now there’s just one thing to remember….
If you've had lots of fun,
When next December rolls around
YOU make the daily runs.
Make sure you pick your family
With tender, loving care
"Cause it's fun to get to know them,
And a special friendship share.
(The 12 Days of Christmas image above is from a puzzle we do each Christmas - see Christmas puzzles)
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Comments
Aargh! Does nobody remember anymore that the twelve days of Christmas come AFTER?!! They run from Christmas Day -- the first day -- through January sixth, traditionally celebrated as Epiphany (Greek for showing), the day the wise men supposedly arrived to see baby Jesus.
I'm afraid that when we forget things like this, we're giving in to the world's materialistic viewpoint that says Christmas is over on the 26th because the buying is done. (I also sigh when I see Christmas trees at the curb that day.)
Posted by: Salome Ellen | December 12, 2006 7:39 AM
You are right, Salome - as I found out and mentioned in my follow-up on the 12 Days of Christmas. I copied this the way it was sent to me - but the 12 Days of Christmas actually begins December 25.
Posted by: barbaracurtis | December 12, 2006 11:04 AM
My elderly parents have recieved a box in the mail from an anonymous Christmas friend and it is a joy for them to read adn open each little package.
For all of you silent givers . . . THANKS.
It's not the same as this but it is similar.
Ornaments and jelly beans with clever messages that hold their interest.
We're going to save the notes if anyone wants to replicate the gift.
ps My parents didn't wait till Christmas day to open it because they need the cheer now!
Posted by: ruth | December 19, 2006 3:30 PM
