The robin redbreast is probably the most recognized of all wild birds. Its friendly, humble nature is beloved by all and it is held in high esteem within many religions, present and past.
Within Christianity, the robin has an honored place as being the childhood friend to the Jesus-child. The robin, according to myth, also waited outside the tomb of Jesus and sang with the angels when Jesus ascended into heaven.
Robin Eggs
It is extremely unlucky to harm robin eggs. Finding the hatched shells on the ground, however, if very lucky and some people will put a bit of the shell into a pocket to carry the luck with them.
Flames of Hell
According to Scottish folklore, the robin’s red breast comes from the fires of hell. Each day, the robin gathers a single drop of water in its beaks and flies down into the flames of hell to drop the water. The robin works in earnest to save man from the burning flames, but has scorched his breast in doing the good deed.
Killing a Robin
If you deliberately kill or injure a robin, you will wish you were dead. For the rest of your life you will only have bad luck and misfortune.
Thorny Crown
Another story about how the robin got its red breast says that as Christ hung from the cross, the robin tried to ease his pain by pulling the thorns off of the crown. Christ’s blood has since forever stained the humble robin.
Tapping at the Window
If a robin taps on the window of a sick person’s bedroom, death will surely follow.
Burial
Folk belief has long stated that both the robin and the wren would cover the lost and forgotten bodies of the dead with leaves and to cover the body’s open eyes with moss. “Cov’ring with moss the dead’s unclosed eyes, The littlest redbreast teacheth charitie.”
Sacred to Thor
Among the Norse, the little robin redbreast was sacred to Thor. If anyone would hurt a robin or its nest, Thor would take revenge and strike down the guilty with a bolt of lightning.
Caging a Robin
“A robin redbreast in a cage puts all of Heaven in a rage.” If you would dare capture and cage a robin, you will have nothing but bad luck until the robin is set free.
Mining Pit
If a robin is spotted flying over a mining pit, it is an omen of coming disaster, according to a Welsh superstition.
Flying into the House
If a robin flyings into the house through an open window, a death will soon happen. This is one superstition I now believe in because it happened at the house of my mother’s late friend. While my mother was visiting her sick friend, she opened all the windows to do a spring cleaning. A robin flew in and she had a heck of a time getting the bird back out of the house. Her friend passed away less than two months later. If the robin would have flown into the house during the month of November, it would have brought good luck instead of ill.
Sources:
The little giant encyclopedia of superstitions. (1999). New York: Sterling Pub.
Radford, E., & Radford, M. (1949). Encyclopædia of superstitions. New York: Philosophical Library.
Tate, P. (2008). Flights of fancy: Birds in myth, legend and superstition. New York: Delacorte Press.
