Are loved ones hanging around after they pass away, recently a whole array of stories have surfaced about this issue but this time it isn't just mere utterances or messages from beyond these stories are rather interesting because the little robin always makes an appearance!.
Well it certainly seems that we are being watched, The little robin could well be a messenger, just as the postmen were nicknamed robin redbreasts hundreds of years ago, they were also messengers. The beautiful robin could be just letting us know that someone on the other side loves us. Keep a lookout, and throw some cheese and bread under the bushes for them.
The beautiful robin widespread across Europe, is a well known, easy to recognise bird. It has its place in european mythology, and some ancient bygone wisdom surrounding this bird suggests that it should never be harmed, or terrible misfortune will affect the perpetrator.
In one legend, the robin was all brown until it was touched with the blood of Christ as Christ hung on the cross. Another legend says that the robin scorched its red breast in the fires of Purgatory, mercifully taking drops of water in its beak for the lips of the parched souls in torment. In Wales this act has earned the bird the name bro-rhuddyn - `breast burnt´.
Yet another interesting story states that: if a robin dies in ones hand, that hand will always shake uncontrollably.
Old English Anonymous text: "how badly you write", I said one day to a boy in our parish school; "your hand shakes so you can't hold the pen steady. Have you been running, or anything of that sort?" "No" replied the lad, "it always shakes, I once had a robin die in my hand; and ever since then my hand shakes".
Hundreds of years ago robins were called redbreasts, in those times postmen wore red tunics and were nicknamed robins and over time the robin was nicknamed `Robin Redbreast´.
Tbhe eautiful robin widespread across Europe, is a well known, easy to recognise bird. It has its place in european mythology, and some ancient bygone wisdom surrounding this bird suggests that it should never be harmed, or terrible misfortune will affect the perpetrator.
In one legend, the robin was all brown until it was touched with the blood of Christ as Christ hung on the cross. Another legend says that the robin scorched its red breast in the fires of Purgatory, mercifully taking drops of water in its beak for the lips of the parched souls in torment. In Wales this act has earned the bird the name bro-rhuddyn - `breast burnt´.
Yet another interesting story states that: if a robin dies in ones hand, that hand will always shake uncontrollably.
Old English Anonymous text: "how badly you write", I said one day to a boy in our parish school; "your hand shakes so you can't hold the pen steady. Have you been running, or anything of that sort?" "No" replied the lad, "it always shakes, I once had a robin die in my hand; and ever since then my hand shakes".
Hundreds of years ago robins were called redbreasts, in those times postmen wore red tunics and were nicknamed robins and over time the robin was nicknamed `Robin Redbreast´.
The robin has a distinctive `tick tick´ call and a wonderful melodious high pitched melody is sung to attract a mate this melody can be heard all year round.
Three quarters of robins die before they are one year old! either caught by predators, or unable to fend for themselves due to loss of habitat.
Robins are fiercely territorial over food supply. Not more than one robin will occupy a small garden, unless it's their partner.
In winter the robin puffs up its plumage to insulate its body against cold winds.
When the male robin has found a partner, he will bring her food, worms, caterpillars etc, which she begs for noisily while quivering her wings and is often mistaken by the observer as a mother feeding the young.
The robin is very fond of gardeners turning the earth on the vegetable patch thus digging out grubs and worms which the robin will feed on.
In winter time when food is scarce be sure to keep the bird table topped up with food.. especially fatty foods, and go a step further and throw some cheese nuts and kitchen scraps under the hedges if the area is cat free.
Peter C.
Re edited: Jan 2018.