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The 12 days of Christmas as objects in our collection — a thread On the first day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: A taxidermy partridge (not in) a pear tree.
(BTW Partridges are actually ground birds - unlikely to be found in a pear tree...)
On the second day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: Two Turtle Doves
These birds are actually only resident in this country during the summer as over the winter they return to West Africa!
These birds are actually only resident in this country during the summer as over the winter they return to West Africa!
On the third day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 3 sassy hen harriers!
These female hen harriers feed on small mammals & birds, including game birds, which leads to conflict on grouse moors & threatens the survival of this severely endangered bird!
These female hen harriers feed on small mammals & birds, including game birds, which leads to conflict on grouse moors & threatens the survival of this severely endangered bird!
On the fourth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 4 calling birds that look like a boy band.
(Calling birds seems to have been originally 'colly birds', as in 'black as coal', believed to mean blackbirds!)
(Calling birds seems to have been originally 'colly birds', as in 'black as coal', believed to mean blackbirds!)
On the fifth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 5 TOTALLY AWESOME GOLD RINGS 
Top left: around AD 1200
Bottom left: AD 1200-1500
Central: Fulford Ring – 15th Century
Top right: AD 800-925
Bottom right: AD 1400-1500 AD
(This is what we REALLY want for Christmas)
Top left: around AD 1200
Bottom left: AD 1200-1500
Central: Fulford Ring – 15th Century
Top right: AD 800-925
Bottom right: AD 1400-1500 AD
(This is what we REALLY want for Christmas)
On the sixth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: one goose definitely not laying
Goose is more traditional for Christmas dinner than Turkey in Britain. The image shows part of a #Medieval goose that has been cooked, and eaten, found near a Medieval site at Wood Hall.
Goose is more traditional for Christmas dinner than Turkey in Britain. The image shows part of a #Medieval goose that has been cooked, and eaten, found near a Medieval site at Wood Hall.
On the seventh day of Christmas @YorkArtGallery gave me: 1 swan not swimming
Made by Anne Stokes, it watches over our collection.
Made by Anne Stokes, it watches over our collection.
On the eighth day of Christmas @YorkCastle gave me: 1 maid a-milking!
This shoulder yoke shows a rural scene of a milkmaid, four cows, ducks and a milk cart – so basically you’re getting a whole cute farm scene for your eighth day!
This shoulder yoke shows a rural scene of a milkmaid, four cows, ducks and a milk cart – so basically you’re getting a whole cute farm scene for your eighth day!
On the ninth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 9 Painted Lady Butterflies dancing! 
(We're proud of ourselves for this one
)
(We're proud of ourselves for this one
)
On the tenth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 1 [l̵o̵r̵d̵s̵] Viking a-leaping
The #Viking hero Sigurd is leaping his way to victory against a pair of giant snakes on this huge sandstone grave cover.
![On the tenth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 1 [l̵o̵r̵d̵s̵] Viking a-leaping The #Viking hero Sigurd is leaping his way to victory against a pair of giant snakes on this huge sandstone grave cover.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpcwsoyUUAIJehE.jpg "On the tenth day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: 1 [l̵o̵r̵d̵s̵] Viking a-leaping The #Viking hero Sigurd is leaping his way to victory against a pair of giant snakes on this huge sandstone grave cover.")
The #Viking hero Sigurd is leaping his way to victory against a pair of giant snakes on this huge sandstone grave cover.
On the eleventh day of Christmas the @YorkshireMuseum gave me: a pipers pipe!
We have this fragment of a #Viking flute made from a swan's or crane's bone with three finger holes.
We have this fragment of a #Viking flute made from a swan's or crane's bone with three finger holes.
On the twelfth day of Christmas the @YorkArtGallery gave me: A drummer drumming (WITH A DOG!)
This is one of the weirdest paintings in our collection! It shows a dog (dressed as a solider) dancing to a drum... And a really unimpressed baby.
This is one of the weirdest paintings in our collection! It shows a dog (dressed as a solider) dancing to a drum... And a really unimpressed baby.
