Monday, 13 December 2021

Advent Photos 2021. December 13th and The Robin

 More photos of the  reproductions of Victorian Christmas cards that were sold as a fundraiser for the RSPB sometime in the last 20 years.

Robins everywhere on cards at  Christmas, maybe because they are one of the few birds to sing through December?



But often thought to be because the first postmen delivering the first Christmas cards when the penny post  was introduced in 1840 and cards became popular  after 1843, wore red coats and were nicknamed the "Robin Postmen".

My first half a  dozen cards arrived but none with robins but then a card with robin popped through the letter box on Friday - so thank you to my penfriend W for providing a photo for the blog! (and thank you for the parcel too)


Back Tomorrow
Sue


22 comments:

  1. I never knew that about the postmen. I love to see robins on a Christmas card, especially in the snow. X

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    1. My favourite cards are old village scenes with snow or robins in snow even though we never get snow at Christmas

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  2. Hadn't heard about the postmen, surprising what we learn randomly in blogland! I too like robins, especially on Christmas cards :)

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  3. We had a Robin regularly visit our previous garden. Not seen one in our new plot yet

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  4. QI covered robins, etc, and said it wasn't connected to postmen, etc. However, as QI regularly changes it's collective mind, maybe that has changed again since that particular Christmas special.

    I dearly love robin Christmas cards - they just feel so very joyous and festive to me.
    xx

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    1. Yes I've no idea if the book is correct or not!

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  5. I to love to see the Robin on a card.
    My niece sent me a little plaque when my son died saying
    "Robins appear when loved ones are near"
    Hazel 🌈🌈🌾

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  6. The two things I like to see on Christmas cards are robins and postboxes with maybe a bit of snow on top and if the robin should be standing on the postbox even better.

    I would get those two cards framed and hanging on the wall for Christmas.

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    1. Oh yes, robins, old villages, postboxes and the snow we rarely see in real life

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  7. Robins are just the perfect Christmas bird aren't they. One of our neighbours has decorated the outside of their house beautifully and at the end of one of the strings of fairy lights and tucked into the hedge is a little illuminated robin. I only spotted it this morning.

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  8. It was a long time before I learned that the bird called the robin in the US is a different bird from the English robin. In the US I think the birds most often shown on Christmas cards are cardinals (red in color and often around in winter) and doves (symbols of peace).

    Thank you for sharing the robin cards. They are very cute indeed.

    Best wishes for a Happy Christmas

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    1. Wish we had cardinals here, they are even more Christmassy than robins

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  9. Those are pretty cards! Like "unknown" explained, we have cardinals on our Christmas cards here as our robins have an orange breast, not as red as your robins.

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    1. Cardinals are even brighter and redder than robins - shame they've never managed to cross the Atlantic

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  10. Our robins fly south for the Winter and return in the Spring. The cardinals are more red than robins, but only the male is red. The female is very muted. Your cards picturing robins are delightful. Last year my Xmas card featured birds. This year my card is expressive snowmen wearing colorful scarves stating, "Warmest Wishes." Your holiday themed posts are very much enjoyed. Thank you.

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  11. Our robins are gone for the winter, all we have now is sparrows visiting the bird feeder. Greedy little things.

    Love the cards.

    God bless.

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  12. Nice robins on cards, especially one you were sent from a friend! I have had some nice cards that were sent to me with birds on it and one I got today had a adorable dog on it, at bible study. A friend sent me a card with horses that were running. Inside is written, slow down and have a Merry Christmas! Have a good week!

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