So many people don’t understand the symbolism behind the things they see, and here’s what it means when you see a cardinal.
In the coldest part of the year
Cardinals aren’t the kinds of birds to disappear when winter arrives, and scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society state that these birds stay active all year. The birds maintain their bright red color even during freezing weather. That’s where the idea of them providing warmth in cold moments comes from.
Cardinals are one of the few birds not to migrate, so their color stands out quite a bit against the snow and bare trees during the winter. You’ll probably remember it when you see them during the winter because of this. There’s no other sight quite like it.
Around grief and memory
You might’ve heard the phrase, “When a cardinal appears, a loved one is near,” which is a rather popular saying in American culture. Interestingly, there’s no single origin story behind the phrase. It’s something that spread over time in the United States, and many people believe that seeing a cardinal is a message from the heavens.
The bird is supposedly a heavenly messenger that a deceased person has sent down to Earth. As such, it can be a rather touching sight during moments of loss or when you’re doing some reflection. Take it as a good sign.
When two birds appear together
Seeing two cardinals together isn’t a stroke of good luck. In fact, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, male and female cardinals are different from some other birds due to the fact that they stay relatively close together during breeding seasons.
During the courtship ritual, male cardinals will feed females, and you’ll be able to spot such behaviors if you watch them for long enough. That’s the reason why some people view cardinals as representing pairs and connections. These birds are meant to symbolize long-term bonds because people actually see these relationships play out in real life.
Early in the morning
There’s a good chance you’ll hear a cardinal before you see one, should you go outside early. A cardinal’s whistle is one of the first bird sounds that you might hear during the spring, although males do sing throughout much of the year. The activity peaks during the breeding season.
Hearing that clear and repetitive sound so early in the morning is one of the reasons why people associate cardinals with beginnings. They’re seen as birds that represent fresh starts, mostly because they’re there at the start of the day or season.
In Chinese cultural meaning
The color of a cardinal is as important as its species. In Chinese culture, red is quite a meaningful color, and it symbolizes happiness and weddings, as well as prosperity, so it’s a big part of celebrations over there. This sort of thinking is what some people associate with the cardinals.
No, the bird isn’t native to China, but its color puts the bird into the same system, and that’s why people attach the meaning to the bird. It’s a sign of luck and a reminder of positive moments. Take it as a good omen when you see one.
In Victorian-era symbolism
People in the 1800s were big believers in trying to ‘read’ nature, especially with things like flowers and animals. They saw bright red birds as being connected to life and energy because they stood out so strongly. Victorians also associated them with attention.
These birds stood out, and the Victorians really liked that. To this day, a lot of people still associate cardinals with that same kind of emotion, and they feel a connection to the bird that feels a lot stronger than with most backyard birds.
In Catholic symbolism beyond the name
You might recognize that cardinals have the same name as important people in the church. However, the bond goes beyond that, as in Catholic tradition, red has an important role to play in religious life. The color is linked to the Holy Spirit during Pentecost. Eventually, people started connecting the color to other things outside the church, including birds.
People see a lot more than a mere bird when they see the cardinal outside. Instead, they make a link between it and ideas like sacrifice or faith, along with spiritual presence. The bird itself isn’t doing any of that, though.
In older Cherokee stories
You might be surprised to know how much of a role the cardinal had in old Cherokee stories. The Native Languages of the Americas records state that the bird is connected to the sun, and there are stories that even describe the bird as being the sun’s daughter. Yes, really.
Rather than an association with luck or memory, Cherokee people believe the bird is tied to light and something needed for life across the planet. These storytelling traditions existed long before the modern interpretations appeared.
In weather lore
Another Native tradition associates the cardinal with the weather. Apparently, some Cherokee people think that the bird is also connected with rain and changes in weather conditions, as well as the sun. They didn’t necessarily read a sighting as something emotional.
Instead, they sometimes saw it as a sign to pay attention to what could be coming next in the environment. It was a rather important move for communities that relied so heavily on observation during their daily lives.
In the idea of staying alert
However, not every tradition sees the cardinal as something comforting, including Ojibwe traditions that see the bird as something watchful and aware. They believe the bird is tied to attention and awareness instead of something positive.
Essentially, they believe the cardinal is a bird that reminds you to notice what’s around you and to be careful with your decisions. Take seeing one as a sign that you should stay mentally present. You don’t want to miss what’s happening right in front of you.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
