Christmas Quail

A late 19th century English tradition to hang a taxidermied quail on one's Christmas tree for good luck. It begun with King Edward VII and him gifting a quail ornament to his wife, Alexandra of Denmark, on Christmas in 1863 and him telling her that it would bring them a son. Sure enough, in January of 1864, they had their eldest son, Albert Victor. Unfortunately, he died in 1892, and Edward VII banned Christmas Quails from England. But Frederic Austin, the composer of "The 12 Days of Christmas," made sure that the tradition lived on in secret after he was forced by the king to change the lyrics of his song from "...and a quail on the Christmas tree" to "...and a partridge in a pear tree." Christmas Quail ornaments still continue to bring their owners' good luck today, as the custom still continues in many households around the world.