What does the partridge in the pear tree mean?

The partridge in a pear tree is symbolic of Christ upon the Cross. In the song, He is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nest. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of redemption.

Why would someone want a partridge in a pear tree?

According to Ms Neil, each item in the 12 Days Of Christmas song was a metaphor for a bible story. “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree,” symbolising God (true love) and Jesus Christ (the partridge). Second day: Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

What type of partridge is in a pear tree?

Do Partridges Really Live in Pear Trees? A chukar —a type of partridge—walks around the Riverside Zoo in Nebraska. Partridges are ground birds, and would not nest in pear trees.

What is the origin of a partridge in a pear tree?

What the ground dwelling grey partridge (perdix perdix) was doing up in a pear tree has spawned a number of theories; some believe that the words were originally a catechism song for 16th century Catholics unable to practise their faith publicly and that the bird in the tree represented Christ on the cross.

What does a partridge symbolize?

The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators. The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

What do partridge look like?

partridge, any of many small game birds native to the Old World and belonging to the family Phasianidae (order Galliformes). They are larger than quails, with stronger bills and feet. The gray partridge has a reddish face and tail, gray breast, barred sides, and a dark U shape on the belly; sexes look alike.

Where does the partridge live?

Range and habitat Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Some species are found nesting on steppes or agricultural land, while other species prefer more forested areas. They nest on the ground and have a diet consisting of seeds, grapes and insects.

Is a partridge a real bird?

What is a partridge? Plump, midsize birds with curved bills, partridges live in a variety of habitats around the world, including forests, grasslands, and rocky plains.

Do partridges roost?

According to The Birds of North America Online, Gray Partridges roost and forage mostly on the ground. In winter they typically roost in the snow, but they do sometimes roost at the bases of shrubs (perhaps to avoid predation by raptors).

Do Chukars roost?

Their alert and vocal nature make them sentinels for approaching danger, and they have distinct calls for both ground and overhead predators. Birds roost on the ground, often tucked under vegetation or a rock. Chukars are monogamous and males hold territories during the breeding period.

What are calling birds in the 12 days of Christmas?

And that actually makes sense, considering every other lyric in the first seven days of the song references a bird: a partridge, turtle doves, French hens (or “fat ducks,” depending on the version), calling birds (or black birds), swans and geese.

What are the gifts in the 12 days of Christmas?

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,

Why are pears associated with Christmas?

Thanks to their versatility and long storage life, pears were a valuable and much-desired commodity among the trading routes of the ancient world. And in popular culture, the pear tree was immortalized alongside a partridge in the 18th-century Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas.