Image by Pat Carlton

My friends and family in England inevitably send cards with a Robin on it, or a post box ETC.....I love them and keep them forever. I am wondering if I should begin doing something with all the cards I have kept over the years.


artist not known.

Thanks, Espirit. I had no idea the English Robin Redbreast was a symbol of Christmas. How very pretty!

Well it became one......its not a Christmas symbol as such, its just that if you know the bird.....it stays all winter (unlike our Robin that heads south)and has this cheerful disposition. Its so cheeky and bright that it just worked its way into peoples hearts. So on a great many winter scenes on Christmas cards you will see a Robin redbreast, usually with holly and mistletoe. All favorites of mine.



the images can be true to life or



simple drawings.....they all get across the spirit of the "season"



or even the real deal.....they are just so cocky and cheeky



I think everyone loves a Robin

They're beautiful! I love all the drawings and especially like this last picture of a real one! It's so cute and colorful!

Thanks for the images of robins, Espirit. It is indeed a winter favourite, one of the few birds around in gardens in the depths of winter. Its song is rather mournful, but its personality is as bright as its breast.
The American robin was so named because of its scarlet breast too, reminding early settlers of the European robin, but it is, in fact, a member of the thrush family.
There are several other true robins in the world too. Australia, for example, has all grey ones, yellow ones, pink ones, and ones which have a bright red breast and head. They all have the same characterisic stance as our familiar one, and the yellow robins in particular are very curious, often perching very close to people to get a closer look.
Our own robins love to watch what's going on in the garden in the spring, as they are very keen to capitalise on the garden having been dug, which invariably turns up a worm or two. It's a familiar sight to see one perched on the handle of a garden fork, when the gardener is taking a break.

I love the information in this post. I have always loved the robins here and wait eagerly each year for their return. It truly does herald spring. They are beautiful birds.
Do you know the song, Sorry, Espirit, it is Uknown

The Robin
Written By: Unknown
Copyright Unknown
There came to my window
One morning in spring
A sweet little robin,
She came here to sing.
The tune that she sang
It was prettier far,
Than any I've heard
On the flute or guitar.

Her wings she was spreading
To soar far away,
Then resting a moment
Seemed sweetly to say,
"Oh happy, how happy
The world seems to be,
Awake, dearest, child,
And be happy with me."

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Thanks Pamsilva. The Englishman knows that the Robin is the friend of any gardener. My dad used to say cheeky little blighters, our local Robin would almost get in the way as the dirt was being turned to catch the worms.
The one that always comes to mind is in the movie "The Secret Garden"
where the old gardener always has a conversation with that one. The Robin leads the children to the secret door.

(sorry about the soundtrack)This is an older version but shows the Robin in this scene

In the U.S. the red cardinal seems to have become the symbol for the Christmas season, I guess because the male is red and shows up well against the white snow! They are not nice, friendly birds like the little Red Robin. Very bad tempered and aggressive birds.

Haha Marianne, yes that is true but they are very beautiful. Not quite as bad as the Bluejay who will actually attack when provoked, but nothing as sweet as our Robin. The American Robin was a huge disappointment to me though. I first thought it quite ugly compared to ours but have become accustomed to it. The traitor leaves us in winter though so probably why we accept the Cardinal who endures the cold with us. You do see them on our Christmas cards too dont you rather than the Robin.

I rather like the American Robins. Their personality reminds me of the English blackbirds, all bright eyed and bushy tailed. We get a lot here in the summer and it is fun to watch them splashing around in the birdbath. They disappear in the winter here too. Wonder where they go? Probably snowbirding in Florida!