Now for some
superstitions and stories about the little robin redbreast.
The Robin.
If you harm a robin's
nest, you will be struck by lightning. There is also an old saying "Kill a
robin or a wren, never prosper, boy or man.". If a robin stays close to the house in
autumn, a harsh winter can be expected. Robins are thought to be helpful to
humans, occasionally granting favours. They are a sure sign of spring and if
you make a wish on the first robin of spring before it flies off, you'll have
luck throughout the following year.
When we think of a bird
at Christmas we usually think of either the Turkey or the Goose, however the
real bird of Christmas is the Robin. He is found on Christmas cards, cake
decorations and Christmas tree ornaments and is now recognised as a symbol of
Christmas. The tradition was invented by the Victorians, when the first postal
service was established in the 1840s postmen wore a red uniform and they
quickly became known as Robin Redbreasts. In those days there were postal
deliveries even on Christmas Day and so the robin and the postman became
associated with the delivery of gifts
There are
several stories as to how the robin acquired its red breast feathers. In the
Christian tradition, it is thought that a robin tried to remove the thorns from
Jesus’ head during the Crucifixion, and that drops of his blood fell onto the
bird and stained his breast feathers red forever. In another myth, the robin
gained his red breast from flying into the fiery wastes of hell to carry water
to the stricken sinners who were suffering there for all eternity. It’s enough
to give you nightmares.
The robin
is one of those birds where it is believed that if they are seen tapping on the
window or flying into a room that a member of the household will soon be dead.
However, we often have Robins flying into our cottage and we look on them as
our friends not as harbingers of death.
If you
break a robin’s eggs expect something important of yours to be broken very
soon.
If you see a robin singing in the open then
good weather is on its way, but if the robin is seen sheltering among the
branches of a tree then it will soon rain. Also, if the first bird that you see
on St Valentine’s Day is a robin, it means that you are destined to marry a
sailor!
It is
said to be extremely unlucky to kill this bird. The hand that does so will
continue to shake thereafter. In Irish folklore it was believed that a large
lump would appear on the right hand if you kill one. It was also said that whatever you did to a
robin you will suffer the same tragedy. Some believe that the robin will not be
chased by a cat.
It
was widely believed that if a robin came across a dead body it would carefully
cover the body with leaves and vegetation until it was completely hidden. This
was illustrated in the traditional children’s story Babes in the woods, it was
published in 1595 and told the story of two children who were abandoned in the
woods by their cruel and wicked Uncle. They die there and are covered with
leaves by the robins.
Robins
were believed to provide a cure for depression. The remedy suggests a robin
must be killed and its heart removed. The heart should then be stitched into a
sachet and worn around the neck on a cord. I think that would give me
depression rather than cure it.
In the
south east of Ireland they believed that if a robin entered a house it was a
sign of snow or frost.
A robin
singing indicated a coming storm.
I’ve
mentioned a couple of suggestions on how the Robin got its redbreast according
to the Christian tradition but I think they are a little harsh so I’ll tell you
a few other stories that also suggest how the Robin got its red breast.
How
Robin got his Red Breast
One winter, a long time ago, Jack Frost was feeling
very cruel. He made the snow fall thickly upon the ground, and he put ice on the
ponds and frost on the window panes. The birds found it very hard to get food
and soon they began to get hungry. One day, the birds were sitting in a ring
under a hedge, trying to think what was to be done. After a while a little
brown, bird, called Robin, got up to speak.
"I have an idea," he said. "I will go into the gardens and try
to get people to give us a lot more crumbs, at least that way we’ll have
something to eat".
Now Robin had a way all of his own of making friends.
He went along to the houses where people lived and in one of the gardens he saw
a man clearing away the snow from a path, so he hopped up very close to the
man. Most birds are afraid of people, but the Robin was brave. He had to be, if
he was to help the other birds.
When the man saw how friendly Robin was, and how hungry he seemed to be, he
went into his house and fetched a tray full of crumbs. The Robin was very happy
and he flew off to fetch the other birds, soon there were crowds of them in the
man's garden.
The best way they could say "Thank you" to the kind man was to eat
the crumbs out of his hand. The Robin then flew away into other gardens, and
wherever he went he made friends.
So, while the snow stayed on the ground the birds were able to feed after all.
At last the sun came out and chased Jack Frost and the snow away. The happy
birds wanted to thank Robin so they made him a little red waistcoat, which he
still wears. That is why he is now called Robin Redbreast.
OR
Once upon a time long, long ago on a cold and wintery night a father and
his son were travelling along a lonely country road on their way home when a
fierce wind began to blow. They were still many miles from home so they began
to look for somewhere to take shelter, a cottage, a barn, even a group of trees.
However, there was nothing to be found, nothing that is except for a bush. The father built a little fire and told his
son they would have to take turns to make sure the fire didn’t go out.
“Try to get some sleep and I’ll wake you when it’s your turn” he told
his son.
When the father's eyes began to droop he woke his son and told him to
watch the fire.
Well how the boy tried to stay awake! He hadn't really slept while lying
on the frozen ground and he was still exhausted from the walk. His eyes got lower.
His head got lower. The fire got lower.
So low in fact that a starving wolf began to inch nearer the sleeping pair.
However, there was one who was awake. There was one who saw everything
from the middle of the bush; a little bird who was hidden in its branches. The
bird hopped down and began fanning the flickering embers until the flames began
to lick out hungrily. The little bird
was so close to the fire that it felt the heat of its flames but it didn’t stop
despite the pain on his breast, until the flames were burning brightly and they
chased away that hungry wolf. It was because of this heat that the robins
breast feathers changed colour and became as red as the flame and from that day
onwards the robin has proudly worn his little red waistcoat.
Don’t forget that at this time of year as it begins to get colder and
our wildlife finds it increasingly more difficult to find food and fresh water
due to the frozen ground please put out a little for our feathered friends.
They’ll reward you in the spring with their glorious birdsong.
