Pear Trees. They have been here for a long time. Pear trees are believed to have been cultivated since the first century BC, mainly in Asia. And now? About 70% of world pear production takes place in China. Among lost of other things.
But first, there may have been the Partridge. These birds are omnivores. However, the majority of their diet is herbivorous. As such, they spend most of the year searching for seeds, nuts, and berries. Hence the time in the pear tree, I suppose.
Of course, we mustn’t forget the two Turtle Doves. They live in England. That’s also the hang-out of a lot of partridges. But they are movers. Turtle doves are the only long-distance migratory dove species in Europe. Perhaps they travel in pairs.
I wonder what’s with all the birds. A Trio of French Hens. Back in the day, those french hens were a prized table bird in both France and England. They used to be called the ‘queen of poultry and the poultry of kings’. Not surprisingly, this breed originated in France in the late 16th century. Tastes like chicken.
What about Calling Birds? Four. As far as I am concerned, all the birds fit this description. They all call. They all chirp, peep, squawk, and sing.
The Five Gold Rings. I imagine there were five of these rings, one for each finger on one hand. Ten would have been too much.
Half a dozen of one, six of the other. Geese. A Laying. But they are concerned with other things than the eggs. Geese fly in a “V” formation. If one goose is injured, other geese will stay with it until it dies or can rejoin the flock. Noble.
Swimming Swans. Seven. This may be my favorite. Mostly because of the number. Both beautiful and dedicated. Around the age of two, swans choose a mate. They will stay with this partner for the rest of their lives.
Eight maids a-milking. Not a maid like Hazel, or Alice, or even Rosie. These maids are the kind that pulls the teats. Good thing. A cow will produce an average of 6.3 gallons of milk each day. That’s more than 2,300 gallons each year. We might need more maids.
Dance. Dance. Nine Ladies. Tearing up the carpet. Or cutting the rug. Just to note. “Cutting a rug” comes from the 1920s. That is when couples would dance the jitterbug. That highly vigorous dance. When it was done continuously by many couples in one area, it would make the carpet appear as though it was “cut.” Nine ladies.
This. My other favorite. Ten Lords A Leaping. There is no valid explanation for this. But I have my thoughts. This was the origin of the good game, LeapFrog. Many Lords were Princes. Here, that whole kiss the frog and find your Prince thing comes into play. They would leap like frogs to keep from becoming one.
Pipers. Piping. Eleven. Included in this are the Pied Piper, the team of people credited with creating pipe cleaner figures, and the first plumbers.
Finally, those Drummers. Drumming. Drums are one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. Early on, they were made with alligator skins and have been found in China dating back to 5500-2350 BC. I don’t think of China when I think of alligators. But there they were.
Along with all the Pear Trees.
And it comes full circle.
A dime a dozen.
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“The bird who dares to fall is the bird who learns to fly.”
— Unknown
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“A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” — Maya Angelou
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“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.”
― Gloria Steinem
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The Twelve Days. Another Look.
