On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me…

January 3, 2021

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a-Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a-Milking
Seven Swans a-swimming
Six Geese a-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

They’re either Irish or drunk. Or Irish and drunk. Of they’re cangaroos. Our favorite artists have covered pretty much all variants of the situation.

1. Toni Pilling

Lords a-leaping? We need no lords a-leaping. For the artist behind Tee Pee Creations, we’re in sore need of Festive Fords a-beeping. Fair enough.

If you’re still convinced you don’t need lords but you’re not that much into cars and their noises, Laura Fisk of Fisk and Fern might have what you’re looking for. She did all the 12 days of Christmas with pugs and her pugs are definitely a-leaping.

3. Hester Durkan

I was about to say “it’s not that kind of lords, Hester”, but what do I know? And these lords are definitely a-leaping.

I’ve decided to continue showing you beautiful stuff (or at least stuff I think it’s beautiful) even after Christmas, but instead of having monographic articles featuring single illustrators I’ll be grouping them with themes. As a theme I’m picking the Twelve Days of Christmas, a British carol I adore. If you never heard it (you’re clearly not Britsh) I suggest you take a look at this incredible performance.

Spooktober

Spooktober 2026 – That’s a wrap!

…and that’s a wrap! Eighteen classic stories, if my math is correct, 29 posts, and the candle’s waning. It’s almost time. Are you all set up? Who are you celebrating with, and what are you dressed up as? Whether it’s true crime or contemporary politicians

October 31, 2026 10:00 am

books and literature

Bulgakov’s The Fatal Eggs

Mikhail Bulgakov (Kyiv, 1891–1940) was a novelist, playwright, and former physician, whom I’m sure you know for The Master and Margarita, published posthumously. His work blends sharp satire, fantasy, grotesque comedy, and moral seriousness, often targeting Soviet bureaucracy and ideological hypocrisy, but I had no

October 31, 2026 9:00 am

Spooktober

Spooktober 30 – The Black Monk (5)

Conclusion Kovrin received a professorship at the University. The inaugural address was fixed for the second of December, and a notice to that effect was hung up in the corridor at the University. But on the day appointed he informed the students’ inspector, by telegram,

October 30, 2026 6:00 am

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me…

1. Toni Pilling

2. Laura Fisk