Trend from Great Britain - Why the robin is the Christmas bird par excellence
Did you know that a robin was present at the birth of Jesus? In Germany it is still not widely known, but in Great Britain many people are probably familiar with this legend: According to it, such a small bird was sitting in the stable in Bethlehem and felt responsible for the newborn.
When dangerous sparks suddenly flew from a warming fire, the robin is said to have fluffed itself up in front of the child to protect it from being injured. The glowing sparks turned the breast of the previously brownish bird red - and since then the robin has looked as we know it.
The legend of unknown origin, which is told in several variations, serves as one of several explanations as to why robins often appear as motifs on Christmas decorations, especially in Great Britain. In the British Isles, the animal is ubiquitous at Christmas, but the trend is also catching on in Germany, prompting the German Wildlife Foundation to issue a press release this week.
Now, during the Christmas season, the robin can be seen on napkins, Christmas cups and many other decorative items.
Robins are now also coming into our gardens and looking for food
At the same time, however, it is also robin season outdoors: especially in the cold season, the birds can be easily observed in gardens where feeders have been installed.
If you want to help them and other songbirds in winter, it is best to provide mealworms, fat food, raisins or sunflower seeds, the animal welfare experts advise - at least when it is cold and the ground is frozen. Because then the small birds are unable to pull insects, spiders and worms out of the ground and tree bark with their beaks, which are shaped like tiny tweezers.
If you look up what the little orange birds are called in English in a dictionary, you will find the term "robin". And around this term lies the second explanation as to why robins are so popular at Christmas. This is because the British once nicknamed their letter carriers "robin" - because of their red uniforms.
Because the Royal Mail's "robins" delivered a particularly large amount of mail at Christmas, the enthusiasm for the eponymous bird probably also solidified around the festive period, according to several articles.
Regardless of whether the explanation is to be found in the stable in Bethlehem or in the British postal system - the robin is the Christmas bird par excellence.
Sources: German Wildlife Foundation,"Vogelguckerin.de", Garden Bird
Our photo gallery will also get you in the mood for Christmas: We have put together some cookie recipes here. Including cinnamon stars, butter cookies and vanilla crescents.
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The legend suggests that a robin was present at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, bravely shielding the newborn from flying sparks. This is a popular belief in Great Britain, where robins are frequently depicted on Christmas decorations due to this tale.
Despite the colder weather, robins can be spotted in gardens during the winter months, particularly if feeders are provided with mealworms, fat food, raisins, or sunflower seeds.
In Great Britain, postal workers were often referred to as "robins" due to their red uniforms, further enhancing the bird's association with Christmas, as more mail was delivered around this time of year.
Source: www.stern.de
