Art Design by Bridgette Waldau

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME…
A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE

It resurfaces every holiday season, along with gingerbread cookies and mistletoe. The classic carol, the “12 Days of Christ- mas” is a Yuletide tradition every bit as reliable and beloved as trimming the Christmas tree. Who can’t recall at least a few of the strange and downright silly-sounding gifts mentioned in the lyrics, which range from a partridge in a pear tree all the way up to 12 drummers drumming? After all, the Christmas song is not only a standard of carolers from coast to coast, but it’s the type of catchy little tune that stubbornly lodges itself in your head, too, playing on repeat as you prepare for Christmas.

But what is the meaning of the “12 Days of Christmas”? Or the origins of this somewhat odd, if extremely catchy, Christmas song? The lyrics have an old-fashioned sound to them, with all the maids a-milking and lords a-leaping, indicating they were probably written long ago.

Read the full article on Issuu >> Dec 2024-Jan 2025 Issue