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Festive Aberdeenshire and Moray: Celebrating Christmas (Doric style)


By Alistair Whitfield

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What do you want for Christmas? A pair of baffies? Or maybe even a big bosie?

A special Doric version of a very-well known song has been created by a North East poet to kick off the festive countdown.

Jo Gilbert, who pioneered the world's first ever Doric poetry slam last year, said: "I’m an affa proud Doric spikker an I'm sae chuffed tae be playin a wee pairt in keepin scrieved an spoken Doric gan.

"Doric is weel placed tae capture the spirit o iss; nae tae mention ivryday occurrences like cosy jammies an treatin yersel tae a fly cup and a wee bit shortbreed."

Jo also unearthed a forgotten Scots phrase – ‘daft days’ – for her Doric version.

Originally made famous by 17th century Scots poet Robert Fergusson, it describes the fun of the festive period.

Jo was commissioned to write the piece by Lidl.

Ross Millar, the supermarket's regional director for Scotland, said: "This project has certainly been an education for us all.

"The daft days were the original, Scottish twelve days of Christmas.

"Our aim at Lidl is to celebrate all that makes Scotland unique, from food to culture.

"Daft days really is at the heart of Scotland’s festive season and we’re incredibly proud to celebrate this."

Watch Jo perform the version here

On the first daft day ma true love gied me

  • the best prezzie - a great big bosie

On the second daft day ma true love gied me .

  • two pairs of baffies

On the third etc

  • ma maist favourite sweeties

On the fourth etc

  • rare cosy jammies

On the fifth daft day mae true love showed me

  • there's sic a thing as ower muckle cheese

On the sixth etc

  • a list o hings tae dae

On the sivinth etc

  • a dram tae see the bells in wae

On the eighth daft day mae true love made me

  • a recht fine denner fer New Year's Day

On the ninth daft day mae true love left me

  • a midden o a house to tidy

On the tenth daft day mae true love sais tae me

  • a dinnae ken fit day it is

On the eleventh

  • a fly cup wae a bit of shortbread

On the twelfth

  • a haun tae pit awa oor tree


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