What is a Colly bird?
“Colly birds” most commonly refers to blackbirds, but it can also be a catch-all term for any small songbirds. Songbirds, including blackbirds, would have been a common menu item at the time of the song’s origin. Four colly birds would not have made much of meal, to be sure.
Is it 4 calling or Colly birds?
Some basic research shows that, based on modern usage, both phrases are correct, though “colly birds” predates “calling birds” by more than a century.
What does a Colly bird look like?
“Colly bird?” It’s essentially a black bird, Armenti said Wednesday. Although both “calling” and “colly” have appeared in versions of the song, “colly,” which is derived from the Old English word for coal, predates “calling” by more than a century, he wrote.
What are the 4 calling birds?
Four Calling Birds were the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Five Golden Rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
What are 5 golden rings?
Five Golden Rings are symbolic of the Pentateuch, the first five Books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
What are 3 French hens?
According to Catholic Straight Answers, the three hens “signify both the gifts of the Magi (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), and the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.”
What does calling bird mean?
: a bird used to lure others : a decoy bird.
What do the calling birds represent?
Calling Birds = Either the Four Gospels or the Four Evangelists. Golden Rings = The Pentateuch or The first 5 books of the Old Testament.
What does 12 days mean in the Bible?
The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi, the three wise men. It begins on December 25 (Christmas) and runs through January 6 (the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings’ Day).
What does 5 golden rings mean?
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch,” which gives the history of man’s fall from grace. 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation. 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments. 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes.
How much does a calling bird cost?
Even ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ is being slammed by inflation
| Gift | 2021 Price | Price Change |
|---|---|---|
| Four calling birds | $600 | No change |
| Five gold rings | $895 | +8.5% |
| Six geese-a-laying | $660 | +57.1% |
| Seven swans-a-swimming | $13,125 | No change |
The “calling” birds were originally “colly” birds, according to a blog post by Peter Armenti, the literature specialist for the Digital Reference Section at the Library of Congress. It’s essentially a black bird, Armenti said Wednesday.
Why is a collie called a Colly Colly?
Some variants have “juniper tree” or “June apple tree” rather than “pear tree”, presumably a mishearing of “partridge in a pear tree”. The 1780 version has “four colly birds”—colly being a regional English expression for “coal-black” (the name of the collie dog breed may come from this word).
Is it four calling birds or four colly birds?
While we were researching a story here recently, we found that on the song’s fourth day it was actually “four colly birds,” not “four calling birds,” the recipient got from their true love. I’ve been singing it incorrectly all these years, and I’m guessing many others have as well.
What is the origin of the word’Colly’?
The 1780 version has “four colly birds”—colly being a regional English expression for “coal-black” (the name of the collie dog breed may come from this word). This wording must have been opaque to many even in the 19th century: “canary birds”, “colour’d birds”, “curley birds”, and “corley birds” are found in its place.