Meaning of Partridge in a Pear Tree

Meaning of Partridge in a Pear Tree

This is a Christmas Carol that has always fascinated me. What does a Partridge in a pear tree have to do with Christmas? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in Ireland and England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote a carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code for religious reality, which the children could remember . A Partridge in a Pear Tree The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ’s sadness over the date of Jerusalem: Luke 13:34-35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings …” In Summary:

• The turtle doves were the old and new testaments
• Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love
• The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
• The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament
• The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation
• Seven swans a-swimming representing the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit – Prophesy, Serving, Exhortation, Teaching, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy
• The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes
• Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control
• The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments
• The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples
• The twelve drummers drumming symbolised the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed.