The 12 genealogy Days of Christmas - Part 2

For each of the 12 days of Christmas, I will be posting one event / person from genealogical research that relates (sometimes in a rather convoluted way)  to the particular gift of that day in The 12 Days of Christmas. Although the 1st day of Christmas is actually Christmas day itself, I will start my posts on December 26. (I plan on being with my 5 & 7 year old grandkids on Christmas day.)  I invite you to join me. Here is my outline of the last 6 Genealogy Days of Christmas.

January 1 - Seven Swans A-Swimming
Swans are beautiful and graceful on the water.  Do you have a picture of a swimmer?  Share it.  (Doesn't have to be beautiful and graceful.)

January 2 - Eight Maids A-Milking
While "maids a-milking" may be a common occurence on a farm, let's go in the opposite direction today.  What woman among your ancestors worked in a non-tradition setting or occupation?  Or, perhaps one of the women in your family tree, broke with traditional gender-expected roles.  Write a post about her.

January 3 - Nine Ladies Dancing
Dancing is often in our genes.  (Unfortunately, my wife will tell you that it is not so with me.)  Most of us (even me!) have learned to do the genealogy "happy dance."  Do you remember your first genealogy "happy dance?"  Write a post about what led to that dance.  Or, pick another "happy dance" time and write about it.

January 4 - Ten Lord A-Leaping
It has been suggest that the Nine Ladies Dancing were all invited guests to the festival.  The Ten Lords A-Leaping were more likely professional dancers (see "Morris Dance").  Who among your ancestors had an interesting, but unusual profession? 

January 5 - Eleven Pipers Piping
Theological interpretations of the carol suggest that the 11 Pipers represent the 11 faithful apostles.  Of course, the unspoken word here is that there was a 12th -- a blacksheep.  In doing a bit of googling for this post, I learned that there is an International Blacksheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG)  Have you discovered one or more blacksheep among your ancestors?  Can you write about them?  If so, share the story with us.  Interestingly enough, the IBSSG has a "Tender Lambs Corner" for private sharing of stories that might have a negative effect on a living individual or on the family in general.

January 6 - Twelve Drummers Drumming
12 is the number of completion, fullness, or wholeness.  In Old Town St. Charles, Missouri, each Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is a parade down Main Street of 50 or more storybook characters and Santas from around the world.  The parade is led by the Lewis and Clark Youth Fife and Drum Corps.  Santa and Mrs. Clause are given the honored position of riding in the horse-drawn carriage at the end of the parade.   If your genealogy were to be on parade, who would lead the parade and who would be in the horse-drawn carriage at the most honored position in the parade?

Well, that does it for the 12 Days of Genealogy Christmas.  If you join in the fun, leave a comment on this post or the previous one.

For a bit of additional fun with the 12 Days of Christmas, check out Kerry Scott's 2010 post in Clue Wagon -- "Screw A Partridge In A Pear Tree.  I Want Death Certificates."