A Christmas Carol – Dude Ranch Style
When I was a kid, one of my fondest memories is of my family plunging headfirst into the Christmas season. Just about every room in the house was adorned with Christmas decorations; a fresh tree was purchased every year and was covered with tinsel, ornaments, and a star for a tree topper. Decorating the tree was a much-anticipated event for my sister and me.
The exterior of the house glowed with old-fashioned Christmas lights, the porch railing and eaves shined like a beacon transmitting into space, and in the corner of the porch stood a six-foot plastic Santa that greeted visitors as they approached the door.
Christmas carols were played as we decked the halls and the outside of the house. This was actually my favorite part of the tradition; I loved the music and would sing along whether the family liked it or not. My favorite Christmas albums (yep, no Spotify back then) were The Ray Conniff Singers, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra. I thought the Ray Conniff Singers of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was the best carol ever, until John Denver and the Muppets released their version. Who could forget Miss Piggy singing falsetto for the best day of the twelve – FIVE GOLD RINGS!! Stretching it out longer than necessary, but who could fault her?
In celebration of Christmas and the music that rings in our ears from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, here is the dude ranch version of my favorite – the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” Muppet style. Feel free to sing as you read.
12 Days of Christmas | Dude Ranch Style
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
A forest harvested tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Five ornaments
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested Christmas tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Seven leather saddles
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments!
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Eight reins and bridles
Seven leather saddles
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Nine riding lessons
Eight reins and bridles
Seven leather saddles
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Ten new Stetson hats
Nine riding lessons
Eight reins and bridles
Seven leather saddles
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments, badum-pum-pum (Miss Piggy’s edit)
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
Eleven pairs of new boots
Ten new Stetson hats
Nine riding lessons
Eight reins and bridles
Seven leather saddles
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested Christmas tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Twelve days of wonder
Eleven pairs of new boots
Ten new Stetson hats
Nine riding lessons
Eight reins and bridles
Seven leather saddles
Six Quarter horses
Five ornaments
Four candy canes
Three boughs of holly
Two strings of lights
And a forest harvested tree
