Of all the Christmas symbols, one that has long puzzled yet charmed me is a pretty little bird we call the Cardinal.

Originally, I believed that the association between Cardinals and Christmas was the way their scarlet feathers add a beautiful burst of color against a mostly gray or white winter landscape.

However, upon further research, (I am pretty nerdy, you know) I discovered that while these are both true, there are other, albeit mostly modern connections between Christmas and the Cardinal. 

Red evolved into a universally-recognized color for Christmas as a symbol of the blood of Christ which He shed to redeem all of mankind. The cardinal’s vibrant crimson is a lovely reminder to focus on our faith in His atonement and the hope and peace that it brings.  To quote Bronners Christmas Wonderland, 25 Christmas Lane, Frankenmuth, Michigan, even a “glimpse of this brilliant bird brings cheer, hope and inspiration on a gray, wintry day.” In addition, unlike most northern birds, Cardinals don’t migrate south for the winter, so they stay home year round making them one of the few types of birds one might see during the Christmas season.

So, somewhere in the not-so-distant past, the Cardinal was christened a Christmas bird. Today, the cardinal represents constancy no matter the season like the constancy of God’s love, and the atoning sacrifice of his Son which gives us peace and hope in this life and in the next.

Regardless, I hope glimpses of this bird with stunning red plumage has a cheering effect on you.

 

 

Sources:

Think About Christmas 

Quora

 

Author of Historical Romance and Fantasy, award-winning author Donna Hatch is a sought-after speaker and workshop presenter. Her writing awards include the Golden Rose and the prestigious Golden Quill. Her passion for writing began at age 8 she wrote her first short story, and she wrote her first full-length novel during her sophomore year in high school, a fantasy which was later published. In between caring for six children, (7 counting her husband), her day job, her work as a freelance editor and copywriter, and her many volunteer positions, she still makes time to write. After all, writing IS an obsession. All of her heroes are patterned after her husband of over 20 years, who continues to prove that there really is a happily ever after.

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