Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA

  The Twelve Days of Christmas — History, Meaning and Tradition Day 64 of the Christmas Countdown From Christmas Day to Twelfth Night: faith, festivity, folklore, music and the changing calendar Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA | Learning • Knowledge • Growth Introduction For many people Christmas seems to finish when the presents are opened on 25 December. Historically, however, Christmas Day marked the beginning of an extended season. The Twelve Days of Christmas connect worship, hospitality, visiting, music, shared food, seasonal games and the anticipation of Epiphany. They also survive in the remarkably memorable cumulative song in which a mysterious true love offers an ever-growing collection of gifts. Understanding this tradition therefore requires two different stories: the calendar of celebration and the history of the song. They overlap, but they are not identical. This article explores why the twelve days are usually counted from 25 December to 5 January, how Twelfth Night and ...

  Christmas Crackers — The Victorian Tradition at the Festive Table From French bonbons to the joyful snap: history, symbolism, etiquette, and the future of a Christmas ritual By Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA | Learning • Knowledge • Growth | 21 October 2026 Introduction Picture a Christmas table just before the meal begins. Beside each plate lies a brightly wrapped paper tube, tapered at both ends, perhaps tied with ribbons or decorated in red, green, gold or silver. Two diners reach across the table, each taking one end. There is a brief pause, a shared pull, a sharp pop, and usually laughter. A folded paper crown emerges, along with a puzzling joke and a little surprise. The object is small, but the ceremony is unmistakable. It turns guests from observers into participants and marks the meal as something different from an ordinary dinner. A Christmas cracker is a decorated paper novelty designed to be pulled apart by two people. Traditionally it contains a snapping strip, a paper...