I know it's the last day of Christmas, but I'm sure you've been hearing "The 12 Days Of Christmas" song a whole bunch. Just in case you don't know each of those 12 days by heart.....
Here are the lyrics (for the last go-round):
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... 12 Drummers Drumming 11 Pipers Piping 10 Lords-a-Leaping 9 Ladies Dancing 8 Maids-a-Milking 7 Swans-a-Swimming 6 Geese-a-Laying 5 Golden Rings 4 Calling Birds 3 French Hens 2 Turtle Doves And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Ok, let's start with what technique to use: The Number/Rhyme system. Since the above list only goes up to 12 and we know that we'll be counting down from 12, we just need to have an association between the number (1-12) and the item that goes with it. So what is the number/rhyme system? Well, it's when you think of easy words that rhyme with numbers 1-12 and then use those words as "pegs" to attach each image to. Here's the pretty standard list for 1-12 (note that they all rhyme):
1. Gun 2. Shoe 3. Tree 4. Door 5. Hive 6. Sticks 7. Heaven 8. Gate 9. Wine 10. Pen 11. Lemon 12. Elf
Now, for each of those words, we need to associate (or imagine) something having to do with the christmas item for that number. Let's begin:
12 - elf - We need to associate "Drummers drumming" with an "elf". Easy. Just picture an elf playing the drums. Maybe he's playing some Metallica. 11 - lemon - We need to imagine "Pipers piping" with a lemon. Why not just imagine a lemon smoking a big wooden pipe. 10 - pen - Ok, imagine a big fat Lord Of The Rings book leaping over a pen, back and forth (lords-a-leaping). 9 - wine - Imagine some sexy ladies dancing while drinking some wine....that's an easy one (ladies dancing). 8 - gate - Imagine some french maids pouring milk all over themselves, all scantily clad, pleading to be let in through a gate (maids-a-milking). 7 - heaven - Imagine swans swimming in the clouds up in heaven, all serene-like (swans-a-swimming). 6 - sticks - Imagine some geese having intercourse (or "laying") some sticks (you can just picture some geese laying on some sticks, but that's rather boring...) (geese-a-laying). 5 - hive - Imagine some bright gold rings or honeycombs stuck up in this hive, dripping with delicious honey (golden rings). 4 - door - Imagine calling a bird on his cell-phone and as he flies down to your doorway to meet you, you slam the door in his face. BAM (calling birds). 3 - tree - Imagine some hens wearing french berets and with moustaches, sitting in a tree, enjoying some cheese and baguettes (french hens). 2 - shoe - Nearly done! Imagine a turtle and a dove putting shoes on each other, stinky workout shoes (turtle doves). 1 - gun - This one you should just know, but in case you don't, imagine a partridge in a pear tree and firing a gun at them (partridge in a pair tree).
There you go!
Merry Christmas everyone!