The True Meaning Of A "partridge In A Pear Tree"

[pastafreak]

I received this in an email this morning. I've no idea if it's historically correct...or myth..but it's interesting reading....
I think its safest to put this here in CB...rather than elsewhere...;-)

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this 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 word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two 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 represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, 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 symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

[lady-janine]

never heard that before pasta. when was the carol written? does anyone know?

[RATTER15]

I'm not sure that this explains much but its worth a viewing :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbejNNCTr7k

[paddywak]

According to Wiki the earliest known English version was published in 1780 but it was believed that it was based on earlier continental versions.

[pastafreak]

Some quick googling shows that the song first appeared around 1780 in a children's book.
And according to Snopes...there is no truth in the story.

[pastafreak]

Oh RATTER....that hilarious!!!..love it.

[AB Editor]

I have heard of something similar pastafreak and it is interesting how people hide things in the popular media of the day.

there are other older songs that have underlying meanings.

Probably one of the most well known is ring-a-ring a rosy and its connection to the plague.
x

[pastafreak]

I know that some rhymes from the 18th c had political meanings/references in them.

[mrs.chappie]

That clip's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. It's got me crying with laughter.

[jeffa]

Ring a Ring o' Roses has nothing to do with the Black Death: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_a_Ring_o'_Roses#Plague_interpretation

[nescio]

AB Editor,
the plague connection with ring a ring o' roses is generally regarded as spurious and was never stated before the 1950s.the rhyme itself first appeared in print only in 1881.

[jeffa]

Also, the four "calling" birds is a recent mondegreen. It's four "colly" birds.

[jeffa]

Indeed.

Am I the only person who now can't get Max Bygraves' "Deck of Cards" out of his head...?

[RATTER15]

Jeffa, the Wink Martindale original was far better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmp3TF1DFZ8