The role of research in illustration
Exploring the story behind the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song – an example of how research informs my illustration work.
Where it all started
For many British people, singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is as integral to the holiday season as garish jumpers, kissing under mistletoe, or finding a penny hidden in a flaming Christmas pudding. But for newcomers to the British Isles, hearing folk passionately singing about leaping lords, milking maids, and an ever-growing menagerie of wild birds can epitomize the eccentricity for which the Brits are known.
Curious about the meaning behind the song, I decided to look into its origins. This journey into history not only offered insight into a cherished Christmas tradition but also inspired me to create a book cover illustration dedicated to this quirky, festive tale.
A bit of background
Historians disagree on the exact origins of the song, but it likely began as a memory-and-forfeit game played at Twelfth Night parties – celebrations that were especially popular in Britain until the late 19th century. The Twelfth Night marked the end of the Christmas season on January 5th, and, as we are familiar from Shakespeare’s play of the same name, these gatherings had their own traditions.
Lord or Lady of Misrule
One such tradition involved the Twelfth Cake, an elaborately decorated cake containing a hidden bean. Whoever received the slice with the bean was crowned the Lord or Lady of Misrule, granting them authority over the evening’s revelry. The idea of festive role reversal, rooted in medieval society, allowed this Lord or Lady to preside over the participant, games and pranks of the night.
Party Games and Forfeits
In one such game, children sat in a circle, each taking turns reciting the lines of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and recalling the verses that came before. Any mistakes led to a forfeit, perhaps a kiss or a sweet treat. The earliest printed version of the song appeared in Mirth Without Mischief, a children’s book from 1780.
What about the birds?
The song is filled with references to birds, from partridges to swans. According to Mark Forsyth in his book A Christmas Cornucopia, this may be rooted in historical Christmas traditions.
First of all, at the time the game appeared, there was a long-standing tradition of shooting birds over the Christmas period, which immediately resonates with the various species of wild birds the song mentions.
Moreover, there’s
a Christmas recipe from 1747 for a large turkey stuffed with a whole goose stuffed with a chicken stuffed with a pigeon stuffed with a partridge, like a Russian doll made of meat
as Mark Forsyth explains, which sounds like the Twelve Days of Christmas on a plate! Not to mention giving added legitimacy to that post-Christmas dinner exclamation: “I’m stuffed!”
As for the iconic “partridge in a pear tree,” many believe this line is a playful nod to the French word for partridge, perdrix (pronounced “pear-dree”). Some historians even speculate that the song itself may have originated in France, with the original lyric being “a partridge, une perdrix.”
Bringing Tradition to Life Through Illustration
In illustrating the cover of The Partridge and the Pear Tree, I aimed to capture both the whimsy and mystery of the song’s origins. Through researching these traditions, I was able to add layers of historical context to my work, from the birds to the festivity of the Twelfth Night. It’s a reminder of how illustration can bring the charm of the past into the present, adding depth to a visual narrative.
If you’re interested in commissioning an illustration project that combines history, research, and storytelling, feel free to get in touch!