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The 12 Days Of Christmas At The Dallas Arboretum
Hubby and I and our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter had the opportunity this past week to check out the new 12 Days Of Christmas display at the Dallas Arboretum.
They didn’t have them all up and running, yet, but what we saw was pretty impressive!
From November 16, 2014 to January 4, 2015, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden debuts The 12 Days of Christmas, sponsored by Amegy Bank of Texas, a $2 million one-of-a-kind exhibit. The display features dramatically designed gazebos that are 25-feet-tall, each modeled after a day from the popular Christmas carol. The Dallas Arboretum commissioned The Dallas Opera and Dallas Stage Scenery—the same team that creates their elaborate sets and show-stopping costumes. All craftsmanship, aside from
wig creations and bird feathering, has been done with local Texas artists, builders, craftsmen and vendors.
We very much enjoyed our day touring the Arboretum and checking out the display.
THE EXHIBIT
30,456: Wooden berries on transoms
29,137: Pounds of glass
28,328: Rhinestones on the columns
25,963: Pounds of aluminum in the gazebo structures and mechanics
20,000+: Hours of labor to build the gazebos
8,160: Square feet of rooftop
6,000: Bolts
950: Sheets of plywood for gazebos and crates
536: Pieces of glass used to encase the gazebos, giving it a music-box quality
400: Gallons of paint
180: Yards of fabric to sew gowns for “9 Ladies Dancing”
55: Mannequins, each with hand-painted faces with their own unique personality
28: Hand-carved animals
12: Gazebos
8: Weeks to assemble the gazebos in the gardens
4: Fiberglass animals
4: People to sew costumes
2: Years to design and build the gazebos
1: Vision of Arboretum supporters Tom and Phyllis McCasland, to have a magnificent Christmas display
for Dallas
…and a partridge in a pear tree
THE CAROL
2+: Centuries the song evolved before it was published***2
1780: The year the 12 Days of Christmas was published**
1909: The year Frederic Austin composed the traditional folk melody so commonly recognized today***
England: Where the Christmas carol first published**
French: Origin of the 12 Days of Christmas, although some sources claim England is the true origin of the
song***
4: There are actually 4 “Colly Birds” not 4 “Calling Birds”*
5: Golden Rings refers to 5 ring-necked pheasants*
364: Total number of gifts given in “The 12 Days of Christmas”*
$107,300: What your true love would have to spend to buy all 364 gifts in 2012*
For more information about The 12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum or to purchase tickets for
daytime or nighttime, visit http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/seasonal-festivals-events/the-12-
days-of-christmas or call 214.515.6500.
*http://theweek.com/article/index/237828/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-twelve-days-of-christmas
**http://www.12days.com/faq.htm
***http://chuck.hubpages.com/hub/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas
So, if you’re looking for a great holiday experience this might be just the ticket!
The 12 Days of Christmas will be open to the public starting on Sunday, November 16 and run through January 4 with special lighted nighttime showings available Sundays-Thursdays and some select weekends.
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