Partridge in a Pear Tree

So I'm still hung up on this 12 days of Christmas thing. I'm going to go with it starting today since the 12th day would be Christmas Eve. Yes, that's Adam logic but it works for me. I did some reading trying to figure out why a Partridge and why a Pear Tree. I'm thinking if I gave someone that I was dating a Partridge in a Pear Tree for a Christmas present, I'd be in trouble. Kind of like giving someone a shovel for Valentine's Day. And for the record, I did not ask for the shovel back - but thanks for all the suggested advice that I should have!

For $15, you can find a Partridge at your local bird store (doesn't everyone have one of those?). Or you might be able to shop online for a Partridge - I'm sure it will come via carrier pigeon. Partridges are actually part of the pheasant family.... so why a Partridge? Keep on reading....

For about $100 you can buy a Pear tree at your local garden store (a little more common than bird stores). Another thing that you can order via the internet... you can find anything on the internet! Pear trees give off delicious pears.

So now what I can find on the "meaning" of this... there are a lot of references to religion when discussing the true meaning of the 12 days of Christmas. Here's one that I rather enjoy about folklore:

In Middle English pertriche "partridge," was derived from Perdix, one of Athene's sacred kings, thrown in the seas from a tower, and carried to heaven in the form of a bird by his goddess. He was the partridge, she the pear tree. Athena was worshipped in Boeotia as Once, the Pear Tree, mother of all pear trees. Perdix, whose name originally meant "the Lost One," was a form of Vishnu-Narayana, called Lord of the Pear Trees in his holy city of Badrinath in the Himalayas (from badri, "pear tree"). The pear tree had a feminine-masculine significance through Eurasia. It was also sacred to Hera, whose oldest image at Heraeum in Mycenae was made of pear wood. European peasants considered the pear a favorite "life-tree" for a girl. In Russia pears were used as protective charms for cows. It seems that when the partridge in a pear tree was made into a Christmas carol the symbol of Christ was substituted for Perdix.

So there's your educational lesson for the day. No, I don't recognize EVERYTHING in that paragraph, but I recognize enough to consider it worthy of posting:)

Actually, in reading more, there are 12 days beginning on the night of Christmas (12/25) and ending on the day of 01/06 (day of Epiphany). In the Middle Ages this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking which climaxed on the 12th Night... the traditional end of the Christmas season. So kind of like a Christmas Mardi Gras. I'm up for celebrating this year... anyone else?????

Song of the Day - I've been listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers when working out in the mornings this week. Not sure why I enjoy them during that time so much but it's really helped motivate me this week. Takes a lot to motivate me to get up at 5:30 and go run in the mornings, but the Peppers and Stadium Arcadium is a start.

Video of the Day - I watched the new Miami Vice this past weekend. It was pretty good (apart from Colin Farrell trying to play the white trash role of K-Fed with his weird hair cut and mustache). I guess I don't remember enough of the 80s series with Don Johnson and "the other guy" to compare it to. They did keep the focus on the Ferrari which I love (F430 Spider). I should add that to my Christmas list this year....

Webpage of the Day - If you wondered what the definition of "bad robber" was.... here you go. Thanks Wyatt!