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David

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Shrewsbury

Twelve days of Christmas: Three Kings, Shrewsbury

Epiphany, assigned as the date of the visit of the supposed Three Kings (or the Magi) to the baby Jesus. Referenced in this year’s Christmas decorations of a Shrewsbury herbalist.

Presumably they didn’t want to find any herb with “gold” in the name. Around the time of the switch from BC to AD, cinnamon was an extreme luxury spice, perhaps getting on for literally worth its weight in gold.

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: wood carvings, Guildhall, Coventry

Twelve days of Christmas: wood carvings, Guildhall, Coventry

Elaborate low relief carvings in the rich wood panelling of the great hall in the medieval Guildhall, Coventry.

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: squirrel

Twelve days of Christmas: squirrel

Squirrel contemplating a Christmas tree, weathervane. This was on the cathedral / imperial chapel at Aachen.

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: beware of the bears

Twelve days of Christmas: beware of the bears

Morris and Co., Shrewsbury, with a distinctive and striking set of Christmas decoration for their building by the Severn at Welsh Bridge. Some of the night-time shots were taken with a camera phone, and don’t do the bears justice.

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: lion misericord, Coventry

Twelve days of Christmas: lion misericord, Coventry

Misericord, lion with face rather defaced. Now on display at the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry.

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David

Twelve days of Christmas: demonic doorknocker

Twelve days of Christmas: demonic doorknocker

Doorknocker if the form of a demonic face. Not, in my opinion, as threatening as the famous one on the main door at Durham Cathedral. This one is from the cathedral (Dom) at Trier, Germany, and is still scary enough to ward off any malicious spirits associated with the turn of the year.