Get in the '12 Days of Christmas' spirit in Tameside

Music, dancing, crafts and creativity all come together this year as Tameside Council has come up with a seasonal '12 Days of Christmas' celebration. 

Among its many features are a partridge in a pear tree decorated by schoolchildren, messages of hope written on turtle doves, a bagpiper piping from landmark sites, and a film of 12 drummers from across the borough.

A video will be posted on the council’s Facebook page and YouTube channel at 9am each day from Tuesday, December 1, to Saturday, December 12, with a special round-up celebrating the creativity of Tameside residents going out on December 13.

This follows on from the success of last year’s Night Before Christmas video, which celebrated the Tameside Loves Reading campaign and received more than 30,000 views across social media.

More than 600 people have been involved in the project so far, but the council is inviting all the borough’s residents to get in the 12 Days of Christmas spirit by decorating their windows and then sharing pictures and videos by tagging @tmbc_culture on Twitter using the hashtag #TamesideChristmas or on the Tameside Libraries and Culture Facebook page.

If you need any inspiration, there’s a theme for each of the nine towns. Ideas of how to decorate your window with craft activities and silhouettes are available at www.tameside.gov.uk/12DaysofChristmas

The town themes are:

Ashton: Two turtle doves

Audenshaw: 10 lords-a-leaping

Denton: Four calling birds

Droylsden: Six geese-a-laying

Dukinfield: Three French hens

Hyde: A partridge in a pear tree

Longdendale: Five gold rings

Mossley: 11 pipers piping

Stalybridge: Seven swans-a-swimming

To add the finishing touch, each town will have a tree with lights and some civic buildings will be illuminated.

Free online events on offer from Tameside Libraries

Meanwhile, Tameside Libraries have also developed a digital programme called the ‘12 Days of Christmas’, set to run from 5 to 19 December. There are events for young and older children, and courses for adults.

For children three years or above, storyteller John Kirk uses Zoom to lead attendees on an interactive scavenger hunt, drawing on popular pantomime tropes. There are also multiple dates for pantomime story time, a fun-filled adventure that tells the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Young children under the age of five can enjoy the Christmas Story and Rhyme Times on afternoon or morning dates.

Writer Sophie Parkes-Nield is going to be giving a Christmas Creative Writing Workshop for adults on the 10th and 17th of the month. Using Zoom, she intends to inspire adults to get their pens moving.

Looking to help people learn helpful skills, online coffee mornings are also available, offering basic IT support in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Tameside Council is also encouraging residents to decorate their windows for the festive season and share photos at @Tameside_Culture.

For the full schedule and booking details, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/libraries

Cllr Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s executive member for Culture, said: “We may have to do Christmas differently this year to help keep everyone safe, but that doesn’t mean there will be any less magic.

“I’m sure the 12 Days of Christmas festival will be a great experience, full of colour and creativity, and providing lots of opportunities for people to celebrate, have fun and support their town centres.”

For more information, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/12daysofchristmas