~~Sound the trumpets ~ ~ today’s pick is

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Pictures by S.D. Schindler

This book is exactly what you would think it is. It is the lyrics from that famous song with pictures.

Where did the song start?

The song was first published in England in 1780 without music. It was a chant and it seems to have been French in origin. The song as we know it now is a 1909 arrangement by Fredrick Austin, an English composter.

What are the twelve days of Christmas? 

The twelve days of Christmas are the days from the day after Christmas (December 26) to Epiphany (January 6). Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season.

Interestingly in some of the northern areas of England, the song was the Ten Days of Christmas. Their season must be different from ours.

The Christmas Price Index?

Yes, while most of the world thinks of the CPI as the consumer price index, PNC Bank annually publishes the CPI – the Christmas Price Index. This practice was started in 1984 and accounts for the cumulative price of the items in the song.  Forbes Magazine cites a report from PNC Wealth Management that the CPI rose 7.7 percent this year to a total of $27,393.17. Most of the increase this year was for labor. Those dancers have gotten more expensive. In contrast,  the pear tree actually dropped in price. If you wanted to pick up all the items the song for every time they are mentioned, it would cost you $114,651. That certainly is a lot of love and a lot of calling doves!

You know the song, right?

In case somehow you don’t know the song, here is a video of it to get you humming along.

Thanks for reading!