Twelve Days of Xmas Trivia

[Eva Elisabeth]

For those of you not familiar with Western ecclesiastical traditions - The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelvetide, is the time it took the three magi, or wise men, to travel to Bethlehem for the Epiphany (January 6), the revelation of Jesus Christ as the savior and the son of God ("epiphany" is Greek for "revelation"). Hence, the Twelve Days are 25 December – 5 January, inclusive.

Since I had to skip the traditional Trivia Advent Calendar and Twelvetide is supposed to be a similar time of merriment and awaiting I thought it would make a good substitute occasion for a daily trivia challenge. (And as Laurie reminded of on another thread it doesn't harm to remember/know the original meaning and story of the season as part of Western tradition/culture (and history?), whatever your believe...BTW Epiphany is another public holiday in some states over here and in Austria, and Xmas break in schools/universities in both countries is throughout Twelvetide, which made this thread possible at all, just to say.)

And for those who are familiar with the traditional song:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EDBMzGq1vhs
... there's a supposed symbolism behind each gift:
#1 - A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus Christ

Here comes #1 in terms of trivia:
   
Where is the tree Mr. Lincoln is gazing at?
   

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PS: Since mine "conceals" it - please don't miss to check out this thread, too:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...-3587.html

[RJNorton]

WONDERFUL, Eva! While I sure missed Trivia Advent Calendar, The Twelve Days of Christmas (Twelvetide) are a terrific addition for 2017-2018.

I have no idea where this first one might be, but I will guess Disneyworld.

[J. Beckert]

I think I see water in the background. I'll guess the Kiel fish market.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Two excellent guesses, Roger and Joe, but, sorry, not correct. Joe, we had a Xmas pyramid this year, and unfortunately Mr. Lincoln missed it (or I missed him watching it...)
   

[Eva Elisabeth]

(12-25-2017 07:14 AM)J. Beckert Wrote:  I think I see water in the background. I'll guess the Kiel fish market.

As for the water -
hint #1: The place/city instantly reminds of a lighthouse (and a library).

[RJNorton]

Can you tell us if this is in the United States? Or Europe?

[Eva Elisabeth]

The photo was taken in the US (and I was told anyone from the area would know/recognize right away).

[L Verge]

My first thought was the National Wheel and Christmas Tree at National Harbor on the banks of the Potomac River here in Maryland, but no Lincoln statue is nearby that I'm aware of.

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(12-25-2017 12:57 PM)L Verge Wrote:  My first thought was the National Wheel and Christmas Tree at National Harbor on the banks of the Potomac River here in Maryland, but no Lincoln statue is nearby that I'm aware of.

I should have called it the Capital Wheel, and I am sticking with my answer of this being at National Harbor outside D.C. It is only 15 minutes from my house, but I have never been there. I just learned that one of the streets in this huge complex is named the American Way and features statues of a wide variety of American heroes and themes -- from George Washington to Marilyn Monroe and even the famous kiss depicting the end WWII.

https://media.nationalharbor.com/wp-cont...C_0901.jpg

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kudos, Laurie, and shame on me - Bill B. sent me this photo (taken by his wife) in early December, and this info:
"It is at National Harbor, across the Potomac (in Maryland) from Alexandria. The wheel is the Capital Wheel, and the bridge in the background is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge connecting Virginia Maryland."
- and my memory "storage" incorrectly "saved" under "Alexandria" (not across)...and I thought the Alexandria lighthouse and library (in Egypt) a good hint..
Here's the entire photo:
   

[L Verge]

(12-25-2017 02:44 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Kudos, Laurie, and shame on me - Bill B. sent me this photo (taken by his wife) in early December, and this info:
"It is at National Harbor, across the Potomac (in Maryland) from Alexandria. The wheel is the Capital Wheel, and the bridge in the background is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge connecting Virginia Maryland."
- and my memory "storage" incorrectly "saved" under "Alexandria" (not across)...and I thought the Alexandria lighthouse and library (in Egypt) a good hint..
Here's the entire photo:

I figured you were thinking of the Egyptian lighthouse and tower. Many new folks here don't realize that there is a Maryland shore to the Potomac also - and that shoreline has some great historical sites.

National Harbor is a shopping, festival, restaurant (I think about 40) and now gambling (MGM Grand Casino) mecca, but right down from it is Oxon Hill Manor (perfect for a Great Gatsby event), Fort Washington (I believe the only fort in America that surrendered without firing a shot when the raw recruits there saw the mighty English fleet sailing towards their goal of burning D.C.) and the National Colonial Farm, which maintains the original scenic view that Washington would have seen in Maryland as he stood on the front porch of Mount Vernon.

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Since I love to relate history, especially in my home county, I want to add that Oxon Hill Manor's original history dates to the early-1700s when it was the home of the prominent Addison family of Maryland, one of the movers and shakers in our early years. John Hanson, often termed the first President of the U.S. under the Articles of Confederation, was related to the Addisons and is buried on the property (although the exact location has been lost to time).

The original house burned in the late-1800s, and an even grander one was built in the 1920s by a very famous European architect. It became the home of the controversial Sumner Welles, Under Secretary of State in the administration of FDR, and the home hosted the President and possibly Winston Churchill during Welles's period in favor (before a sexual scandal brought him down). Later, a wealthy businessman (oil and timber) bought it and used it as sort of an artist colony. It is now owned by the same government agency that owns Surratt House and is used mainly for grand soirees and weddings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxon_Hill_Manor

[Eva Elisabeth]

Two Turtle Doves - The Old and New Testaments
   
Thank you for all the info, Laurie! I like it when a question leads to further input and discussion.
Since it's the second Day of Xmas (public holiday here and in Austria) I shall try another Xmas-tree-whereabout, but first allow me to remark December 26 is "St. Stephen's Day", dedicated to remember the patron also of Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral.
   
He's the patron of the coachmen, which reminds me of that a Viennese coachman lately was fined with some hundred €€, (alternatively he could have spent a day in jail) because of not wearing the traditional hat - there's a strict dress code (written in Vienna state law) to obey when you want to drive a carriage in Vienna...

Now back to what you are actually interested in - where could you see these Xmas trees?
   

[Eva Elisabeth]

Well, although I talk at tines about how things are done/celebrated over here (simply because I myself like to learn about "abroad" first-hand) I do stick with US related questions - and this essentially is (and I have no pics of US-related trees in Vienna...)

[Gene C]

Mt Vernon?
(do I see a George Washington Nutcracker tree topper, and on the other tree some Presidential Seal plates?)

[L Verge]

I agree with Gene and also see appropriate flags of that period (although trees would not be appropriate to Washington's era - except if you count the Hessian ones that were supposedly "on display" when Washington's troops crossed the Delaware).

[Eva Elisabeth]

Sorry, I wasn't able to tend to this sooner. Kudos - excellent and correct, Gene and Laurie!!! I didn't expect it to be found out that quickly! (Again thanks to Bill Binzel who took and "supplied" me with the photo!)

Well, since this didn't last long, here you can try to find the partridge in a pear tree and the two turtle doves (somewhere on the site the author asks what "turtle doves" are - at least in German it means "flirting doves"...)
https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/fami...stmas1.htm