JOLLY OLD HAWK.

As promised, my memorable moment from The Winter Solstice (The Sacred Traditions Of Christmas) by John Matthews as reviewed yesterday.

Now, I'm sure many of you will be familiar with the 'reckoning' song THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS but how many of you have hard of the Jolly Old Hawk? Discovered by Cecil Sharpe (the author is unknown) in Somerset, England, this adds a new dimension to the listings of creatures that can be associated with the season.

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray

Now let us sing:

Who's going to win the girl but me?

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray

Sent to my love on the foremost day:

A jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the secondmost day:

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the thirdmost day:

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the fourthmost day:

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the fifthmost day:

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the sixthmost day:

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the seventhmost day:

Seven young calves as they run before them,

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the eighthmost day:

Eight old bulls as they were a-blaring,

Seven young calves as they run before them,

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the ninthmost day:

Nine old hens as they was a-quarreling,

Eight old bulls as they were a-blaring,

Seven young calves as they run before them,

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the tenthmost day:

Ten old cocks crouw loud in the morning,

Nine old hens as they was a-quarreling,

Eight old bulls as they were a-blaring,

Seven young calves as they run before them,

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Sent to my love on the eleventh most day:

Eleven old mares as they were a-brawling,

Ten old cocks crouw loud in the morning,

Nine old hens as they was a-quarreling,

Eight old bulls as they were a-blaring,

Seven young calves as they run before them,

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.

Now let us sing:

Sent to my love on the twelfth most day:

Twelve old bears as they was a-roaring,

Eleven old mares as they were a-brawling,

Ten old cocks crouw loud in the morning,

Nine old hens as they was a-quarreling,

Eight old bulls as they were a-blaring,

Seven young calves as they run before them,

Six old cows as they were a-bawling,

Five for a fifth and a faring,

A four legged pig,

A three-thrustled cock,

Two little birds and a

Jolly old hawk and his wings were gray.