Pear Tree

A partridge in a pear tree.

The partridge in the song is thought by some to be the red-legged partridge, also called the French partridge. The species was introduced from France into England in the 1700s. Red-legged partridges are more likely than England’s native gray partridges to leave the ground and fly up and perch in a tree.

“Partridge in a pear tree” comes to us as a corruption of the French word a partridge: une perdrix. Say “perdrix” in English and it sounds a lot like “pear tree”! It would be very difficult, because you’d have to force the partridge into an uncomfortable position to get it to stay in the pear tree.

Quail and partridges are white meat and, like chicken, must be thoroughly cooked but not dried. Ducks, pigeons or squabs, grouse (prairie chicken), snipe, and woodcock are dark meat and are preferred by the epicure cooked rare and served very hot.

5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch,” which gives the history of man’s fall from grace. 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation. 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments. 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes.

The CALLING BIRDS of day 4 are the most intersting to me as the original said ‘colly birds’ and subsequent variants said the birds were ‘canary’, ‘collie’, ‘colley’, ‘colour’d’, ‘curley’, ‘coloured’, ‘corley’, and finally ‘calling’ by Austin in 1909 published with his new tune.

A “calling bird” is actually a song bird, but the original song way way back, referred to “Four Colly Birds”. The word “colly” means “black as coal or soot” so the gift was actually four blackbirds (Turdus Merula).

What’s a colly bird? It’s essentially a black bird, Armenti said Wednesday. Although both “calling” and “colly” have appeared in versions of the song, “colly,” which is derived from the Old English word for coal, predates “calling” by more than a century, he wrote.

The 12 Days of Christmas meaning is interesting to explore through a historic lens. The song lists many wild and domestic birds that brightened life in those days of political upheaval and revolution. It was first printed in the 1780 children’s book, Mirth Without Mischief, but it was already old then.

Aside from the famous partridge, he or she gives the narrator more doves, hens, “calling birds,” geese and swans than anyone really needs. The song’s 12-day theme is a religious reference, based on the biblical interval between Christ’s birth and the arrival of the Magi (aka three kings or wise men).

Dr. Wilson

She gets 1 partridge in a pear tree on each of the 12 days.	1 x 12	12
She gets 3 french hens on the last 10 days.	3 x 10	30
She gets 4 calling birds on the last 9 days.	4 x 9	36
She gets 5 gold rings on the last 8 days.	5 x 8	40
She gets 6 geese a-laying on the last 7 days.	6 x 7	42

Probably, the birds most associated with Christmas are the goose and the partridge. Both of these traditions come to us from England — and in fact are among the few authentically English Christmas traditions in the United States.

Tied with the blood of Christ, the cardinal represent the eternal life-giving nature of Jesus and His ministry. Though not specifically a cardinal, all four of the Gospels in the Bible does portray the Spirit as a dove descending from the heavens to rest upon Jesus.

The golden rings are actually ring-necked birds. Common (Ring-necked) Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were introduced to England from China and other parts of Asia in medieval times.

3. “Five golden rings” may actually refer to five pheasants. Mike Bergin of 10,000 Birds explains that the song’s seemingly bizarre switch from four birds, to five pieces of jewelry, and back to six birds actually makes perfect sense: The “five golden rings” are likely a reference to ring-necked pheasants.

December 3 — A French hen — aka: a Faverolles — is a French breed of chicken that was developed in the 1860s in north-central France near villages of Houdan and Faverolles. It was bred initially for both the eggs it laid, and its meat — but today French hens are primarily raised for exhibition.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” Items and Their Cost

Day of Christmas	Gift to True Love	2020 Costs
Second	Two Turtle Doves	$450.00
Third	Three French Hens	$210.00
Fourth	Four Calling Birds	$599.96
Fifth	Five Golden Rings	$845.00

The secret code Third day: Three French hens represented the three gifts of faith, hope and love.

French hens were a luxury import in the 16th Century and are therefore said to represent the expensive gifts gold, frankincense and myrrh. Alternatively they are also thought to symbolise faith, hope and charity.

But why ‘French’ hens? The Latin word for chicken is gallus and, as a result, the scientific name is Gallus gallus [3]. In Roman times, France was Gaul, and people who lived there were Gallic. It seems that the simple word association between the homonyms Gallus and Gallic irrevocably associated the fowl with France.

The gifts are:

• A partridge in a pear tree,
• Two turtle doves,
• Three french hens,
• Four calling birds,
• Five gold rings,
• Six geese a-laying.
• Seven swans a-swimming,
• Eight maids a-milking,

The 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas It can be given to someone anonymously or as a regular gift for the year. Recipients unwrap one gift a day until the song is done. The present is great for anyone that needs their spirits lifted.

Christians who celebrate the Twelve Days may give gifts on each of them, with each of the Twelve Days representing a wish for a corresponding month of the new year. They may feast on traditional foods and otherwise celebrate the entire time through the morning of the Solemnity of Epiphany.

“The 12 Days of Christmas,” will set you back $16,168.14, according to the 2020 Christmas Price Index from PNC Financial Services Group. According to PNC, the cost of Christmas decreased by nearly 60 percent in 2020. In 2019, the cost was an estimated $38,993.59.

3 French Hens: $181.50 (no change)