12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Recap

Understanding the 12 Days of Christmas meaning adds something special to this favorite traditional carol. Its repeating verses make it fun to learn the list of traditional gifts which reflect items that were familiar to life in 18th century England and France.

The song has endured because it applies the Memory-and-Forfeit game mechanic. 

The holiday season is all about giving, and since generosity is one of our core values at Sententia, we're excited to launch our 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaways! Each day we have a valuable and unique gift for you. Below is a recap of the first seven days with links to each day's gift.

Merry Christmas! 

7 Swans a Swimmin'

Our true love was really buying us something rather expensive. Swans have always been luxury goods, a medieval Chanel bag if you will. In the medieval period, swans were status symbols, exchanged between noblemen. Swans looked fabulous, denoted wealth and power, and were so important to aristocratic and royal status that they had to be marked. In England, until as late as 1998, killing a swan (that was not marked as your own) was still an act of treason. Now, because they are protected, it is simply illegal. So, unfortunately, when your true love gives you seven swans, you probably should give them back. 

So let us give you a Swimmin' Sale instead as we sail into 2022! Today's 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaway is 22% OFF on 7 Online Courses and Events. Start the new year with serious savings. 

6 Geese a Layin'

Geese certainly were part of English and French life in the 16th century and despite centuries of domestication, geese remain seasonal egg layers. The higher fat content of the yolk makes them superior and desirable for baking. The best news about having 6 geese a layin' would be that the goslings would soon follow. Geese are excellent parents and protectively raise their young. I didn't make you search for those brief, interesting facts, but for some of you, you would have enjoyed the hunt. 

That's why we're using "six geese a layin'" to make today’s 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaway a FREE Virtual Treasure Hunt Game. Explore the fun and the adventure. 

5 Golden Rings

There’s pretty good evidence to suggest that the "five golden rings" is actually a reference to the yellowish rings around a pheasant’s neck—not to the hand jewelry. And that actually makes sense, considering every other lyric in the first seven days of the song references a bird. 

We're using the "five golden rings" to make today’s 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaway a FREE 30-minute coaching session with a Certified Gamification Master Craftsman.

4 Calling Birds

“Calling” birds were originally “collie” or “colley” birds, meaning black as coal (probably blackbirds, crows, or ravens). 

But I’m going to go with “calling” birds and make today’s 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaway a call to play with our infographic, Serious Fun. Serious Play. Serious Business.  

3 French Hens

When the Twelve Days rhyme was written, French hens were a prized table bird in both France and England, and were an excellent start to a period of feasting. Imagine with me that we could journey to France, a country with a lot of tantalizing trip possibilities. And so, we decide to begin our journey in Paris. The perfect Paris experience combines leisure and liveliness with enough time to savor both an exquisite meal and exhibits at the Louvre. Imagine with us s’il vous plait…

What an adventure that would be and what a great way to continue the 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaways! No, not a trip to France, something even more valuable. Our third gift to you is knowledge and skill development in How to Create Engaging Adventures.

2 Turtle Doves

Turtle Doves are a wild breed of European doves, similar to North American Mourning Doves. They would have been common in England and France during the spring, summer and fall as they migrated through to enjoy a warm winter in southern Africa. They have a long history of domestication by humans. Doves carry a message of peace and hope, appropriate for the holiday season.

The holiday season is all about giving, and since generosity is one of our core values at Sententia, we're excited to continue the 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaways! Here is our second gift to you, The Match-a-Mo Game!

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

The partridge is a colorful choice for the first gift. Partridges include lots of different species with bright plumage on their rotund bodies. They are hardy birds, able to survive cold winter conditions, but aren’t much for flying, with a stocky body and short, round wings, most flights are shorter than 100 yards.

With a partridge in a pear tree we learn why alliteration is alarmingly addictive, and the frist gift in our 12 Days of Christmas daily giveaways, is a copy of my Alliteration eBook, to help the time-crunched professional overcome procrastination.

Merry Christmas to you from the Team at Sententia!