On the 1st day of Christmas... A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Do you love the old “12 Days of Christmas” song? I do! I remember wondering what it meant as a kid, and wishing (and hoping and praying) as a teen that I would have a "true love" who would shower me with such fancy. Now, as a 4 time mom, most of the time I just hear a cash register "ca-ching" echoing in the chorus (by the way, there are people who figure this out – the 2009 cost? $21,465.56)

Image courtesy of artist Annie Soudain

A few years ago I heard an interesting tale that this song was actually written as a secret way for persecuted Christians to practice their faith and pass it down to their children. Mystery and intrigue! Right up my alley. Well, it’s not technically true, but it is still a really neat thought, so I’ll be sharing the history of each day – along with the “new” symbolism!

“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree”

No, not this kind of Partridge!

Since the song is probably French in origin, many have speculated that the pear tree is in fact supposed to be perdrix, French for partridge and pronounced per-dree. But now-a-days in France the first day’s gift is “a good stuffing without bones”. Although that sounds tasty, I like pears, so I’m sticking with the English version!

Now, if we were in Scotland, on the first day our lovies would be bringing us

A popingo-aye (parrot)!

In the modern folklore version, the since the partridge is considered one of the most protective birds and shelters their young with their own bodies, it stands for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The cross is often referred to as a tree and it seems fitting that the partridge is in a tree.

A beautiful way to remember Christ in Christmas.

Only $4.00 and free shipping (hurry it's a Cyber Monday special - I don't know how long it will last!)

100% of the proceeds of this item benefit The Shepherd's Haven, shop their Etsy store!

(I might even be picking up some of these to [ReDeem] into necklaces soon!)

The historical counterpart is from "A New Dial" that included 12 verses that pertained to the 12 Days of Christmas. The first day is:

“Who are they that are but one?

We have one God alone

In Heaven above sits on His throne.”

Well – at any rate, I love to sing this part in a round. One year at a Christmas party everyone was assigned one of the days to sing. This was great fun! After my temporary bitterness at not drawing the beautiful “5 Go-old Rings!” (can you tell I like to be the center of attention?) I really embraced the partridge and it’s tree! Even people who mumble and fumble through the rest of the song ALWAYS get this one right!

One thing I won’t mumble about is this fabulous vintage apron:

After I blogged about it on my Fun and Funky Friday post a few weeks back, Lorraine of Aprons n More contacted me letting me know that she’d like to offer it as a prize to my readers! WOW – thanks Lorraine!

She’s a pretty neat lady, with a passion for vintage aprons (and so much more as the name implies!) She’s busy working on TWO books, loving on her 4 adorable grandbabies and hopes to fill her Etsy shop with lots more soon! For now, she’s got fabulous aprons listed (some of her over 400 piece collection!)

So, to enter Day 1’s giveaway, here’s the scoop. You’ll get 1 entry for each of the following:
• Post a comment (1 per day – so after you check out the next day’s blog, come back here and enter again – just like the song builds every day, so do your chances!
• Post the button (then a comment letting me know)



<a href="http://noelgiger.blogspot.com/search/label/12%20Days"><img alt="ReDeemed button" width="125" src="http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/noelgiger/12daysbutton-1.jpg" height="125"/></a>

• Blog, Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway with the link (then a comment letting me know)
• Follow me (then a comment letting me know)
• BONUS entry! Visit Loraine’s Etsy shop and leave a comment telling us which apron you like best!

The fine print:
• You must leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry – this is the only way to keep it fair and straight (and keep me from having to kill a tree printing them out and cutting them apart!)
• All giveaways will be held on December 13th
• A random number generator will be used to determine the winner(s)
• If your e-mail address is not publicly listed on your profile, please include it with your comment(s)
• We reserve the right to re-draw if the first winner does not respond within 48 hours (please don’t let this happen – that would just be sad!)

And – (aren’t you glad you read all the way to the end? There is a reward for being detail oriented and “stickin’ with it”!) as if you needed more incentive to enter this and the other drawings –

I will be drawing, from ALL the comments on all the days (I’m getting nervous just thinking of the math involved – no worries, hubby is inclined that way, I’ll put him in charge)


For a…





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$50 gift card to your choice of Anthropologie or Hobby Lobby!