Why the Partridge is a Symbol of Christmas

The partridge is a symbol of Christmas for many reasons. One reason is that the partridge is mentioned in the Christmas carol, "The 12 Days of Christmas." The carol says, "On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree."

Another reason the partridge is a symbol of Christmas is because it is a bird that can be found in winter. Partridges are brown birds with black and white stripes on their chests. They live in forests and eat seeds and insects.

People have been giving partridges as gifts since the 1500s. In fact, King Henry VIII once gave his wife a partridge as a present. Partridges are still given as gifts today, especially during the Christmas season.

The Strange History of the Partridge

The partridge, a type of bird, has a strange and varied history. The first mention of the partridge in literature is from the 1st century BC when Virgil wrote about them in his Georgics. In his book, Virgil described how the partridge would lay its eggs in the nests of other birds. The partridge was also mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia and by Aristotle in his Historia Animalium.

The Romans were the first to hunt the partridge for sport. They would use nets to trap them or they would release wild dogs to chase them down. The English also enjoyed hunting the partridge and it became a popular game bird in the 12th century. In fact, there are many old English sayings that mention the partridge, such as "as rare as a live one" and "pretty as a picture".

The partridge was introduced to North America by European settlers in the 17th century. They quickly became established and are now considered a native species. The wild population is estimated to be around 10 million birds.

Partridges have long been considered a delicious dish. They were considered a Christmas feast item as early as the 13th century. Today, they are still enjoyed by many people around the world. Partridges can be cooked many ways but are often roasted or grilled with some seasonings like salt, pepper, and butter.

Will the Real Partridge Please Stand Up?

When most of us think of partridges, the image that comes to mind is a small, brown bird with a reddish breast and a black head. This is the American partridge, or more scientifically, the ruffed grouse. The other kind of partridge is the Old World partridge, which is mostly gray with some brown and a black head.

The Old World partridge is found in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Ruffed grouse are found in forests in North America. They are very different birds.

Ruffed grouse are about twice the size of Old World partridges and have a rounder body. They live in dense forests where there is plenty of ground cover for them to hide in. They eat leaves, buds, seeds and insects.

Old World partridges live in open fields and farmlands where there is little cover. They eat seeds, grains and insects.

The call of the ruffed grouse is a loud "putt-putt-putt" while the call of the Old World partridge is more like a chuckling "pot-a-cherry-o".

The easiest way to tell these two kinds of partridges apart is by their coloration. The American ruffed grouse has a reddish breast and a black head while the Old World partridge is mostly gray with some brown and has a black head.

Partridge Hunting Season Opens November 1st

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced that the partridge hunting season will open statewide on Monday, November 1st. The season will close December 31st, unless extended.

Hunters are reminded that they need a valid hunting license and a valid small game license to hunt partridge. They must also comply with the blaze orange requirements in effect during this time of year. Expanded partridge hunting opportunities are available in many counties through the State Game Lands program.

Partridge, also called bobwhite quail, are a medium-sized game bird found in open woodland and farmland across the state. They are typically hunted with a shotgun using loads of No. 6 or 7 shot.

Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough said expanding hunting opportunities for partridge is good for the wildlife resource and provides additional recreational opportunities for hunters.

"Opening day is always an exciting time for hunters," Hough said. "We encourage everyone to get out there and enjoy the autumn scenery while pursuing these fast-flying birds."

10 Fun Facts About the Partridge

1. The name partridge is derived from Old French perdrix.

2. The partridge belongs to the bird family Phasianidae.

3. There are four species of partridge: the gray partridge, bobwhite quail, chukar, and European or red-legged partridge.

4. The gray partridge is the most common species of partridge in North America and Europe.

5. Most partridges live on farmland and eat seeds, insects, and other small animals.

6. Partridges can be bred for release into the wild to help increase their populations.

7. Partridges are popular game birds and are hunted by both hunters and birders alike.

8. Shooting a partridge is considered a challenging sport because they are intelligent and fast flyers.

9. Partridges make good pets and can be easily tamed if they are raised from chicks.

10. Partridges are believed to have magical powers in some cultures and are often used in spells and rituals.