Partridge in a Pear Tree - Story and Art by Sandra Russell
The Twelve Days of Christmas is a familiar Christmas Carol to
many. I recently read that all the seemingly silly gifts were actually coded
messages for some churches to keep traditions unique to them but forbidden by
other Christian sects. The four calling birds for example, are said to
represent Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
As far as the pear tree and the partridge, it is most often repeated
part of this round, and it is also "the first and the last" gift, and
the "first and the last" part of the song. So in symbol and in
structure the song is representing Jesus Christ. The partridge is a
mother, and the pear is also somewhat feminine in shape and color, so one would
be tempted to see Mary here? But in many old depictions of the Christ child, he
is shown holding a pear. A pear tree produces fruit for many decades and seems
to live forever. In fact, a few years ago, I was surprised to revisit an old
pear tree from my childhood, and to pick a pear, still good to eat from one
lonely seemingly dead branch. There was only one pear on the tree, and that was
the one with one large perfect pear, still hanging from it. I felt it was
waiting there for me, as all the field around it was grown up with brambles and
brush, fires had wiped out the other trees, but there it stood, and one year
after a long absence I returned to claim it.
Anyhow, back to the song. The pear tree represents the cross, and the
partridge represents Jesus, because he died for his 'children' as the Partridge
is said to sacrifice herself for her young. But also, the pear tree represents
enduring life, eternal life, and perhaps only the appearance of death. I love pear
trees, as had happy memories in what once was an orchard, I would ride the farm
horse (Prince) around the hills, and stop for a pear or two, before our final
descent to the barn, the sun would be setting behind us in a minute, but a
sweet pear stop would take us home.
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