Lola, the ABQ Death Cafe mascot
In honor of the holiday, here’s the list of gifts for “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with a twist. These are items that funeral homes might sell or families may provide at memorial services. (I have received a number of these items at the services I’ve attended.)
Play this embedded media file while you go through the items in the song. This version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is performed by the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble on their recording, A Festival of Carols in Brass.
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Seven dripless candles, six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Eight DNA samples, seven dripless candles, six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Nine tribute blankets, eight DNA samples, seven dripless candles, six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Ten memorial fans, nine tribute blankets, eight DNA samples, seven dripless candles, six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Eleven seed card packets, ten memorial fans, nine tribute blankets, eight DNA samples, seven dripless candles, six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Twelve silicon bracelets, eleven seed card packets, ten memorial fans, nine tribute blankets, eight DNA samples, seven dripless candles, six cremation gems, five golden Thumbies**! Four metal charms, three teddy bears, two chocolate kisses, and cremation jewelry, urns and keepsakes.
** Thumbies are jewelry items made with the imprint of the deceased’s thumb print prior to cremation or burial.
Happy holidays everyone, and a blessed, prosperous New Year!
Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®