確かにこちとらも動物とは呼ばれるけれど、駄洒落を言う動物はそういない。それに第一、群れつうのは、ええ、熊さんや、どんなところからものを言っているんだろうと、まあ何だよ、そういう見立ててえのはと、文句のひとつも・・・と三遊亭延長になりそうなので。ええ?何を言ってるんだって? YOU HEARD ME.というわけでこのへんで。
多くの行事・イベントが縮小されたりストップされる中、クリスマスも例外ではないようです。Christmas comes but once a year!と張り切っていた人も、Christmas comes, but once a year is enough.と面倒がっていた人も、今年はChristmas just comes and goes.という静かな対応が要求されそうです。
The season of givingとも呼ばれるこの季節ですが、the season of giving in to COVID-19と降参するか、the season of giving up giving/throwing/having a partyとあきらめるか、いずれにしても残念なことです。
12日間のクリスマスシーズンYule Tideが終わるのが1月5日で、この日の夜をTwelfth Night(十二夜)と呼び、シェイクスピアの戯曲のタイトルにもなっています。6日がEpiphany(顕現祭などの訳あるも私の出る幕ではございません)なので、真夜中を過ぎればEpiphany morningとなります。戯曲自体はこうした宗教的なニュアンスの少ない、ロマンチックコメディだからでしょう。正式なタイトルはTwelfth Night or What You Willで、『十二夜または何とでも』と訳せるかもしれません。
このブログまで来た方は、もう少し頑張って、ネットでThe Twelve Days of Christmas→videoと検索すれば、替え歌も含めて大量のプレゼントが待っています。替え歌でもメロディは変わりません。
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
三銃士の誓 いOne for all, all for oneや、ケネディ大統領の提案Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.のように、最初のフレーズや文1を、単語を変えず位置を変え、文法正しく意味を逆にしてフレーズ・文2とする言い回しを、antimetabole(アンティメタボリー)倒置反復法と呼びます。この標語はそれに近く、「私のマスクがあなたを守る。あなたのマスクが私を守る」と日本語にしてもパワフルな響きがあるように感じます。