On the seventh day of Christmas

On the seventh day of Christmas,

my true love gave me
Seven Swans a-swimming
and
Six Geese a-laying
and
Five Gold Rings
and
Four Calling Birds
and
Three French Hens
and

Two Turtle Doves

and

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

According to the tradition, the Seven Swans represent either the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church or the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Obviously, I need both, but on this first day of the year, I need most of all the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit to guide me safely throughout the twelve months to come, as well as the Three Theologal Virtues, Faith, Hope and Love, otherwise called Charity. But mostly Hope.

There was no feast yesterday evening for The Little Family: I went to sleep before eight o'clock, and awoke only to say good night to The Girls who were going to bed around ten o'clock. No fireworks, tweets; champagne, réveillon, messages, phone calls or greetings for us.

This morning began with the  traditional exchange of hugs, kisses and greetings, followed by the festive breakfast of fruit juice, croissants, coffee and milk. A little time by ourselves and there was the other great tradition of the New Year's Day: the concert in Vienna with its waltzes, flowers, views of the Danube and the city, dancers in the Prater and Schönbrunn, Little Singers, jokes made by the conductor and the musicians, and the wonderful quality of the music called légère: this year was equal to the others if not best. Humour but not too much sugar upon honey: this was not kitsch at all.

At the end of the concert, it was time to change channel as another great classic and traditional New Year's Day film was about to begin: "Gone With the Wind". It is playing right now and the lunch is cooking although the afternoon is well in - but this also is a ritual!

It is almost the middle of the movie, and we shall have our lunch, still without wine or champagne. Then the second part of the film, and a little time on our respective rooms or together, listening to music and reading, before a very light supper, and a last look at TV. Then back to the usual routine before going to bed.

One saying of the family is: "what you do on New Year's Day, you do it all days of the year". Therefore, no chores today but as much pleasurably things as possible. I am old enough now to know that this only a saying and that it does not tell the truth, but let's respect it: one never knows!

Thank you for having ended the year by stopping by this blog and my ramblings. Thank you for beginning it by stopping again and reading my ramblings again. I hope we shall stay together in 2016. I enjoy your comments, and I wish to interact even more with you.

Meanwile,  je vous souhaite une très bonne année. Very Happy New Year to you! And all the gifts of your true love:

On the seventh day of Christmas,

my true love gave me
Seven Swans a-swimming
and
Six Geese a-laying
and
Five Gold Rings
and
Four Calling Birds
and
Three French Hens
and

Two Turtle Doves

and

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

https://youtu.be/VEns6ZxQjnI
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
(The Choir of Trinity College - Cambridge - 2014)