[Originally published on December 18, 2016; revised.]
In honor of the holiday season that surrounds us, I give you the gift of poetry and music. Tonight is the first night of Hannukah, and tomorrow is officially 12 days away from Christmas. No matter what reason you have to celebrate, we can all take part in the 12 Days of Cheesemas.
(Press play, and then scroll down. Feel free to sing along–preferably at the top of your lungs, and with feeling.)
The 12 Days of Cheesemas
On the first day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
A wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the second day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the third day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the fourth day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the fifth day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the sixth day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the seventh day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Seven Neal’s Yard Stiltons
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the eighth day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Eight triple-cream Bries
Seven Neal’s Yard Stiltons
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the ninth day of Cheesemas, my monger sampled me
Nine Emmentalers
Eight triple-cream Bries
Seven Neal’s Yard Stiltons
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the tenth day of Cheesemas, my monger sampled me
Ten Taleggios
Nine Emmentalers
Eight triple-cream Bries
Seven Neal’s Yard Stiltons
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the eleventh day of Cheesemas, my monger sampled me
Eleven clothbound Cheddars
Ten Taleggios
Nine Emmentalers
Eight triple-cream Bries
Seven Neal’s Yard Stiltons
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
On the twelfth day of Cheesemas my monger sampled me
Twelve Robiolas
Eleven clothbound Cheddars
Ten Taleggios
Nine Emmentalers
Eight triple-cream Bries
Seven Neal’s Yard Stiltons
Six Glacier Wildfires
Five Aged Mahons
Four Roqueforts
Three Harbisons
Two fresh Crottins
And a wheel of Ossau Iraty.
Shameless plug: And, in case you didn’t know, there’s a 12 Days of Cheesemas sale going on in The PhCheese Shop, and you have until Friday to take advantage of some really Gouda savings.