It’s not as simple as “a partridge in a pear tree.”
Internet users are freaking out after realizing that the lyric “five gold rings” in the popular — and slightly annoying — holiday carol “The 12 Days of Christmas” may not literally mean what it says.
According to Canadian scientist Dr. Anna Hughes, who has a Ph.D. in astrophysics, the term “5 gold rings” actually refers to the common ring-necked pheasant, making the first seven gifts of the song all about birds.
“Learning that ‘five gooolden riings’ is not, in fact, referring to 5 literal golden rings, but to five ring-necked pheasants, aka more birds,” tweeted Hughes.
The Post reached out to Hughes for comment on her source, though numerous resources have suggested that her interpretation very well may be the case.
The exact origin of the iconic Christmas song itself also is unknown; however, it reportedly first appeared in the 1780 children’s book “Mirth Without Mischief.” Some sources allege the song starts on Dec. 25 and leads all the way to the Epiphany on Jan. 5.
Some Twitter users were shocked by Hughes’ theory.
“I read this out loud to my partner, and he shouted ‘No!’ as if I had just told him Christmas was canceled forever,” said one commenter.
“I’m starting to think this ‘True Love’ is just a cat bringing their kills back to their owner’s porch,” another quipped.
“Stop giving me birds,” joked one person who was apparently already too overwhelmed by the song’s feathery onslaught that includes seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a lonely partridge in a pear tree.