Wednesday, 25 December 2013

IN WHICH WE BEGIN THE 12 CANADIAN DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël from Canada!

Today, Christmas Day, begins the season of Christmastide, which runs for 12 days — until January 5th. January 6th begins the Season of Epiphany, which is a whole different story, featuring three wise men.

You may recall the British song about The 12 Days of Christmas, complete with the bit about a partridge in a pear tree. (Something like that just wouldn't happen in Canada around Christmas.)

Interestingly, the word Canuck is mispronounced in the following song, which makes me think it was actually not produced in Canada. (A lot of things Canadian come from the US, and elsewhere — way more than you would believe.) Anyhow, the abbreviation for Canadian — Canuck — is properly pronounce "caa-NUCK" — emphasis on the second syllable.

Sadly, under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (being secretly negotiated by a dozen governments and about 600 businesses), this kind of information may be illegal. If so, it could be punishable by a hefty fine. And there is no appeal of this industry-imposed tariff. 

Anyhow, without further commentary, The 12 Canadian Days of Christmas.

Blessings and Bear hugs, eh!

26 comments:

  1. I'm sitting here in bed with my partner next to me, laptop in hand. I can't listen to it now without bothering him, but I will listen to it later. In the meantime, Merry Christmas and bear hugs back to you, Bear!!! :-)

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    1. And a very Merry Christmas to you, too DJan! Happy listening!

      Blessings and Bear hugs! (But from Brown Bear not Polar Bear!)

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    1. Merry Christmas, Sandie. May your house be filled with joy, and Mounties, and Salmon, and hockey sticks, not to forget a couple of Bears, and a Moose in a Maple tree!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  3. Okay, I watched it, and I loved it! Thanks so much, Rob-Bear. Made for a very nice Canadian celebration, eh! :-)

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it. Just a touch of Canada in your Christmas, eh?

      Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  4. Merry Christmas, Bear--love the song!!

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    1. Glad you loved the song, eh!

      Christmas blessings. Bear hugs too (but don't crush the fishducky!)

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  5. That's so cute, but even way down here in Florida I know how to pronounce Canuck.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. You are so wonderfully knowledgable about things Canadian, eh? Wonderful!

      How many times have you had a chance to build snowmen in Florida? Doesn't matter; blessings and Bear hugs anyhow!

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    2. No snowmen here, but I lived in Maryland for 15 years. We had our share of snow there. Long ago when we lived in the Seattle area, we loved hopping on the fairy to go to Vancouver or Victoria. What fun we had when the children were young.

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  6. Merry Christmas, Bear! My son and I were just discussing all of the wonderful Canadian musical talent like Celine Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Paul Anka, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and on and on ... we're been blessed to know in America!

    That includes YOU!

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    1. You almost embarrass me by listing this Bear among those notables. But, yeah, lots of Canadian talent has come to visit you.

      Blessings and Christmas Bear hugs!

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  7. Happy Christmas, bear. I thought it was hibernation time for you. Seems like some bears like to celebrate more than sleeping.

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    1. Thanks, KK.

      That problem, as I think I have explained, is that the Cubs (our grandchildren) have absolutely no intention of hibernating. This causes a bit of dilemma, because if we don't stay awake and feed them, they may starve. And I was so wanting to have a good rest; I've had a very busy and demanding year. Sigh!

      Christmas blessings and Bear hugs, anyhow!

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  8. That's a lot of activity for that poor maple tree. ;)

    I think Evil Twin stole one of the hockey sticks. Hm....

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    1. Don't worry, Reffie: Canadian Maples are very hardy trees. And Canada is that land of hockey sticks, so I'm not going to worry if Evil Twin took one. We'll think of it as a Christmas present of sorts, and a "cultural exchange."

      Blessings and Bear hugs (and I should swat Evil Twin, but that would cause a lot of damage).

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  9. Haha! Love it. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed that.

      Christmas blessings and Bear hugs!

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  10. My dad always identified himself as Canuck but he never sent me a moose in a maple tree... hmmm... just a caniche in a little woollie jacket! Merry Christmas Bear! xo zoe and the poodle

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    1. You poor, deprived child! So sorry to learn of your misfortune.

      Although I think a caniche in a little wooly jacket would make an excellent substitute.

      Merry Christmas and Bear hugs, to you!

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  11. I love the video, but I like the way we pronounce Canuck ;o) I am a proud Canadian ;o) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ;o)

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the video, eh?

      Christmas blessings, Happy New Year, and Bear hugs all thrown in!

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  12. Another piece of interest about Kanada, German way of spelling it is that years ago when Europeans\ Germans arrived they apparently could find no natives or others and thus said to one another '
    " Ach hier ist Ka na da!' ( Ka na da is slang for 'Keiener da', translating to NO ONE IS HERE!
    Frohe Weihnachten and of course a Happy New Year eh??
    Il fait trés froid ici !
    I hope the twelve days are merry times at your place.

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  13. Oh, but there were a lot of people here. We just treated them badly, and now have untold problems with our First Nations' people.

    Il fait très froid ici, aussi; -30°C ce soir.

    The 12 days of Christmas are proceeding here, more or less as scheduled.

    Blessings and Bear hugs, Heidrun; all the best for 2014!

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