Seasons Greetings ~ Robin Folklore
“A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage”
~William Blake, Auguries of Innocence
“Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off - and they are nearly always doing it.”
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Already Yule is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere. In the hustle and bustle that generally comes with the over indulgence that is the festive season, it’s easy to overlook or even miss the turning of the wheel, even more so amid the doom and gloom. In the UK, this time is marked by strikes affecting many public services. And just in case there was ever any doubt, this working class girl supports workers fighting for workers rights!
And yet, as I take my morning coffee outside, as the hard frosts of last week that left the garden draped and jewelled in frosted ice gives way to cold rain and mists, perhaps the spirit of the season can be felt most at this time. Everything else hangs suspended, a distant dream in this moment of stark reality.
As always, it’s early. The rest of the world still sleeps and the garden is draped in darkness. The blackbird is awake. I can just about make out his shape as he flits from the thick ivy to the linden tree, but it is the robin whose melodic song breaks the silence of the incoming morning, a harbinger of the sunrise that brightens the sky in the east with a glowing orange red, perhaps a sign that rain will accompany the sunrise.
The robin is one of the more stereotypical images associated with winter and Christmas, despite being a common visitor to the garden most of the year round in the UK, but I get it. Perhaps it is because his bright plumage adds a splash of colour on those drab and dreary days or that his song brightens a winter's morning, who knows? What I do know is that there is a wealth of folklore and superstition surrounding this festive little bird, and it makes perfect sense to share some of my favourites with you as the wheel turns towards Yule.
The Robin & The Gods
You might think this makes sense, what with Christmas being about the birth of Jesus, however the stories surrounding the robin redbreast and Jesus are generally associated with the crucifixion of Christ.
In some versions of this story, the red of the robin’s breast comes from the blood of Christ while singing into his ear to ease his pain and passing. In other versions, the blood soaked into the feathers as the small bird tried to pull the thorns from the crown.
It’s not just Jesus the Robin is associated with but also with purgatory, that place between heaven and hell. In these stories, the robin scorched his feathers by feeding drops of water to the suffering souls burning in purgatory.
The robin is also associated with Thor, and is said to be an omen that a storm is on the way. Because of this connection to Thor, if anyone should harm the robin, then lightning might just strike them down!
Death and Ill Fortune
As cute and cheery as the robin undoubtedly is, many of the stories and lore surrounding this garden bird centre around death and ill fortune. Perhaps it is because they are favoured by the gods that those who might inflict harm on the robin will face one of many unfortunate consequences ranging from illness to death.
If you should kill a robin, then the hand that struck the killing blow will shake forever after. In other versions of the same story, you don’t even have to be the one who killed it, but if the robin should die in your hand, then that is enough to give it the shakes. In yet other versions of the same story, if you break the robin's eggs, then it stands to reason you should expect something of your own, something valuable, to break.
The robin can also be a harbinger of death, particularly if one flies into the house, or indeed even lands on the windowsill and looks in or pecks at the glass.
This association with death needn’t always be negative though, for in other pieces of folklore and superstition, the robin is seen as a messenger between the living and the dead. Some believe that when a robin is present, it’s a sign a loved one is around or indeed has a message from beyond the grave.
The Robin as A Symbol For Good
Death aside, the robin has also been heavily associated with all things normally deemed good and kind such as bravery, and brings good luck and happiness.
The robin is associated with love, hinted at in the old childhood nursery rhyme ‘The Marriage of Cock Robin to Jenny Wren.’ The story is a little macabre though, as it ends in the death of Cock Robin.
If a robin appears in your dream, then it is usually a sign that something good is coming your way.
The Robin In Reality
If you have seen a robin in your garden quite frequently then the chances are it will be the same robin each time as they are highly territorial and will see off any rivals eyeing up his territory. Don’t be fooled by their chirpy countenance and their cute looks, these birds can be ferocious when it comes to their space.
Their bravery is quite often reflected in the stories and lore about them, yet as with most things, these are rooted in reality. Gardeners will know that after a while, robins will come increasingly close while you’re digging in the hope of bagging a worm or two. If you sit quietly, they’ll come so close you’ll think they might just land on you!
While the robin is associated with this time of year, it is a year round visitor to my garden, but on these winter mornings, when it’s song rings out from the top of the cherry tree bringing in Yule and the longest night and all the other festivities too, it’s hard to deny it really is a symbol of the season.
Whatever you celebrate, have a good one!
References
https://www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/news/robin-fact-and-folklore-eva-phillips-comms-officer
https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/marriage-cock-robin-and-jenny-wren
Tate, P. (2009) Flights of fancy: Birds in myth, Legend and superstition. London: Arrow Books.
EMMA KATHRYN
Emma Kathryn, practises traditional British witchcraft, Vodou and Obeah, a mixture representing her heritage. She lives in the sticks with her family where she reads tarot, practises witchcraft and drink copious amounts of coffee.
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