This old Christmas carol was actually a cleverly disguised way
of helping children learn the tenets of their Christian faith in 16th century England.
The dominant religious forces operating within the political atmosphere at the time,
had Protestants persecuting Roman Catholics and Roman Catholics persecuting
Protestants, while those with a more nonconformist attitude towards their
religious beliefs were also targeted for subjugation under the law.
The Partridge In A Pear Tree
Lynn Bywaters
In other words, you could not be a self-declared believer and follower
of Jesus Christ independent from belonging to an organized church.
This terrible time of violence and death is what eventually led to the exodus of
thousands of Christians from England, seeking their desired religious freedom across
the stormy seas of the Atlantic to the primitive shores of the New World,
"the promise land" which would one day be the nation of America.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree!
Like the mother partridge who selflessly defends her young by
luring predators away from her nest, our Lord Jesus Christ selflessly
gave His life on the cross to save us from sin and the curse of death.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Doves are often depicted in the Bible as messengers of hope, as
when the second dove Noah sent out from the ark returned with an
olive leaf and he knew that the flood waters had subsided from the land.
When Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan, behold the
heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and
alighted on Him. "And behold, a voice from heaven said:
"This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight!"
(Matthew 3:17)
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
According to some historians, French hens were a
culinary delight fit for the table of a king.
The gifts brought to the Christ child by the Magi-
gold, frankincense and myrrh- were gifts befitting
the majesty of a king, and were given to the
Lord to honor Him as the King of kings,
and Lord of lords.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
The four calling birds represent the four evangelists,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and their message
of the life and teaching ministry of Jesus and the ethical and
spiritual principles of the Messianic kingdom, with special
emphasis that the Son of God came to earth to live among us,
to seek and to save that which was lost.
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Gold has long been symbolic of wealth and
worldly riches, yet, the value of gold pales in comparison
to the lasting truth and promise found within the Word of God.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Eggs are a symbol of new life, and the 'six geese a layin'
further remind us that God created the world in six days.
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
The beautiful Swan, although graceful in appearance,
is actually a creature of tremendous strength.
One swat from their wings can actually break a man's leg!
That said, the latent strength of the swan reminds us that
our Lord, though gentle and humble in appearance,
is our Strength and our Shield against all the schemes
of the enemy and the rampant deception of this
lost and fallen world.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a-layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
In the words of the apostle Peter,
"Like newborn babies you should crave the
pure unadulterated spiritual milk, that you may be
nurtured and grow into complete salvation."
(1 Peter 2:2)
Be not only readers of the Word, but put your
complete trust and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
They who rely on Him will never be disappointed
or put to shame.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a-layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
"But the (nine) fruits of the Holy Spirit, the work of
His presence within accomplishes:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
humility
self-control
(Galatians 5:22-23)
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a-layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
The ten lords a leapin' are thought to
represent the Ten Commandments and the impact
the laws of God have on the life of the obedient believer.
"Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
(Isaiah 1:18-20)
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a-layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Jesus began His ministry with twelve hand-picked disciples,
until one, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Him. The tragic end
of Judas reminds us of the temptation of sin and the lies and deceit
of the enemy of the souls of mankind. Unlike much of the church
today, Jesus had absolutely no problem teaching on the subject
of hell and how to avoid going there. He reminds us of
the end result of compromising with the enemy and
the false values of the world system when He said:
"And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul; but be afraid of Him who can destroy both
soul and body in hell."
(Matthew 10:28)
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milkin
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a-layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Drums were often used in biblical times as instruments
of praise and worship to the Lord.
The Hebrew word "tof" or frame drum, is commonly
mistranslated in the Scriptures as tambourine or timbrel.
However, according to both archaeologists and biblical
scholars alike, the tambourine did not appear until
Roman times. In one of the earliest records of a drum
being used in worship, the prophetess Miriam, sister of
Moses and Aaron, "took a timbrel (drum) in her hand,
and all the women went out after her with timbrels and
dancing. And Miriam responded to them,
"Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously
and is highly exalted; the horse and the rider
(Pharaoh's chariots and horsemen in pursuit of Israel)
He has thrown into the sea."
(Exodus 15:20-21)
The Song of Miriam
Celebrating after crossing the Red Sea
(18th Century)
Paulo Malteis
(Italy)
