“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English carol first published in 1780 that enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the 12 days of Christmas.
Every year since 1984, a group of economists at PNC Wealth Management have figured out how much it would cost to actually buy all the things on the “Twelve Days of Christmas” list. The so-called Christmas Price Index indicates inflation and the increasing costs of certain goods. This year, for instance, if you were really going to buy everything on that list—which includes hiring drummers and dancers (per performance) and milking maids (per hour), and, presumably, a group of men who are willing to leap for pay – it would run you US$114,651.17 dollars. Compare that to 1990, when you could get away with the whole shooting match for a cool $US15,231.70. At today’s prices, a performance of 12 drummers drumming would set you back an average of $US2,854.50 while seven swans will run you a whopping $US7,000.
Alternatively, if your budget is more conservative, you could head into Ajijic and spend much less purchasing a gift for each day at one of the 12 shops promoted on the back page of this edition. At Telarte you could pick up a Oaxacan rug, at Hanna’s Boutique a smart dress, at Mi Mexico a pair of the famous San Miguel shoes, at Galeria di Paola some fantastic art and photographs, at Cugini’s Boutique some original clothing and a glass of wine, at Cevicheria enjoy a beer and some fresh seafood, at Jose Melendrez some hand-made jewelry, at Arte Rio a colorful painting by the resident artist, at Fiaga embroidered cotton clothes, at Belva and Enrique Velazque’s Studio a painting or photograph, at The Merendero Lake eat the best burger in town and at Studio 18 Art Gallery choose from some of lakeside’s best artists’ work.