12 Days of Christmas- 31st December- Plygain

This years 12 Days of Christmas parcels started with a hand dyed braid on 25th December, but then the following days all contain brand new colours of Superfine Merino & Silk. 
This is the exact same fibre composition as all the rest of the stock currently in the shop, so can be used interchangeably in the same projects. This was specially commissioned for the 12 Days of Christmas parcels, which meant I had to order lots of each colour. As a result the spare fibre is going online at midnight (GMT) on the day featuring each individual colour. Anyone can buy this spare fibre... it's really rather pretty! You can find it in the Superfine Merino & Silk section of the shop, and the usual Buy 2, Get a 3rd Half price offer applies to this fibre as well. ​

I've given them seasonal names, picking out traditions from all around the world. 

This subtle shade of red is called Plygain. 
This is a lovely soft dove grey, with a hint of warmth to the colour. 

Plygain is a Welsh traditional  Christmas carol service, held in the early hours of Christmas morning. The customs and format varied from area to area, but in many cases young people would often gather and stay up through the night and then all go to the church together, carrying candles in order to light the church for the service. Once in church there is little formal structure to proceedings. Groups of carollers simply get up and sing, and the same song is never repeated twice. Songs are often prepared throughout the year, and there can be great consternation if another group sings the song you were planning to sing before you! Families often have their own hand written songbooks, passed down through generations. 

Plygain carols are often unique to Wales, and not simply  Welsh translations of the carols that many of us are used to singing at this time of year. In modern times the tradition of the early morning service has largely disappeared, but many churches in this area do still hold a service, but they're often spread through late December and early January allowing people to attend more than one service.

If you'd like to hear more this is  a playlist filled with Plygain carols.