On the 11th day of Christmas...Eleven Pipers Piping

"On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me

eleven pipers piping,

ten lords a leaping,

nine ladies dancing,

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."

photo by Always 13, used as table numbers for their wedding - very creative!

I'm glad that I'm not a redneck (despite evidence to the contrary in my backyard - I put that squarely on Mr. [ReDeemed]!), for today's gift would be 11 'raslin' tickets (not wrestling, mind you - it's 'raslin').  There are many things with which I wrestle, I don't want to watch 2 sweaty guys fight it out.  (so you can have my tickets if you want!)

I have a feeling that the French version would also work for my Redneck friends:

11 beautiful full-breasted maidens

(I hope you won't be disappointed that I omit a pic here!)

Here are some pics that are fit for consumption :)

Library of antique and scrap leather books for the neck - eleven miniature books, $325.00 by The Black Spot Books

(I love all her necklaces - they just make me smile!)

Victorian Images Gift Tags Set of Eleven for Wrapping or Scrapbooking, $6.50 by Happy Hound

11 - 4 x 6 fine art photograph, $8.00 by Numeric Design

And now, please welcome Rhonda of Blue Creek Home!

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Do you know what this is?

Well, of course… it is Eleven Pipers piping flying - in a Christmas tree formation - under the guidance of the Star of Bethlehem!!!

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Seriously, I am excited to be participating in Noel’s Twelve Days of Christmas. It has been very informative and fun reading all the guest posts about this age old Christmas song. And how about those great give-aways???

I guess you know by now that I am doing 11 Pipers Piping!

From 1558 until 1829 CE, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.

Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples:

1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew,

8) Thomas, 9) James, son of Alphaeus, 10) Simon, who was called the Zealot, 11) Judas, son of James

The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

While I was researching the Twelve Days of Christmas, I ran across this site. I think you will enjoy it. Make sure to visit the 11th day and read the story written by Chuck Wilkes.

Wishing everyone a very blessed Christmas,

Rhonda

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Don't forget about our gift certificate giveaway - with a drawing, from ALL the comments on all the days!

To enter:

• Post a comment (1 per day – so after you check out the next day’s blog, come back here and enter again – just like the song builds every day, so do your chances!
• If you haven't already, post the button (then a comment letting me know)
• Blog, Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway with the link (then a comment letting me know)
• Follow me (then a comment letting me know)
• BONUS!  Folow Rhonda's blog and then leave me a comment letting me know!

The fine print:

• You must leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry – this is the only way to keep it fair and straight (and keep me from having to kill a tree printing them out and cutting them apart!)
• All giveaways will be held on December 13th
• A random number generator will be used to determine the winner(s)
• If your e-mail address is not publicly listed on your profile, please include it with your comment(s)
• We reserve the right to re-draw if the first winner does not respond within 48 hours (please don’t let this happen – that would just be sad!)