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IN folklore and popular belief, a robin may be a sign that a loved one is near, the cheerful bird acting as a messenger from the afterlife.
A recent article in the Daily Mail revealed that dozens of people wrote in to say they believe a “dead” relation has returned as a red-breasted visitor in their garden.
Sarah Voss told the paper that a robin appeared in her garden on the one-year anniversary of her father’s passing. Its singing cheered her up.
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TRADITIONALLY, robins are imbued with many symbolic
meanings including hope, renewal and good fortune.
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“My dad was a singer in a band when he was young,” she said, concluding that her parent was there in avian form “checking in on” his family.
Sarah’s father passed in March 2022. Two days later on Mothering Sunday, she took her mum to a garden centre, where they found they were being followed around by a robin.
“When we ate in the restaurant, the robin sat outside the window,” Sarah recalled. A few weeks later, a pair began nesting in a tree at her home.
“One would sit right outside the window looking in for hours,” said Sarah. “They didn't fly away when I was near and seemed really brave.”
Sarah even managed to stroke the bird. She wrote that she likes to think that “this was my dad coming to check in on us and especially his grandson.”
Traditionally, robins are imbued with many symbolic meanings including hope, renewal and good fortune.
In Celtic mythology, the birds are associated with the fire god Lugh while in Christian countries they are often linked to Christmas and the story of Jesus.
Many believe in the saying, “When robins appear loved ones are near.” Their singing can bring a sense of peace and reassurance.
In their natural habitat, robins are territorial, fiercely guarding their territory and nests, reflecting qualities of resilience, courage and protection.
They nest early in the spring, marking them as symbols of renewal, fresh beginnings and optimism.
One mother told the Daily Mirror that on the anniversary of her child’s death she asked her little boy to give her a sign before visiting his grave later that day.
When Marie Robinson arrived at the cemetery in Hampshire she sat down on some grass and was joined by a robin.
“He went and sat on a nearby headstone,” said Marie, “so I got my phone out to film him being close to me and he flew over and landed on my hand.
“He kept looking at me directly in my face. At one point he landed on my shoulder and nibbled me a couple of times. Yes it brought me to tears.” Marie was happy to accept it as “a sign from Jack.”
On social media, others shared their uplifting encounters with robins on the Facebook page Robins Appear When Loved Ones Are Near.
Michael posted “My father passed fifteen years ago today. As I stood in my garden wishing I could see
Dad once more, a robin came very close and started singing. I think it was my dad who loved singing when alive.”
Gill O’Neill from Cambridge said she felt that her husband Phil had returned as a robin.
“Whenever I need his advice, or am thinking about him, a robin appears,” she posted.
“I know he’d say, ‘What a load of rubbish,’ but it has happened too often to be simply a coincidence.” Gill even believes that Phil gave her permission to fall in love again.
“The night of my first date with my second husband, Lawrence, I was sitting in my car ‘chatting’ to Phil about it,” she explained.
“Suddenly a robin appeared on my car. He’s helped me to make other important choices, too.”
Clairvoyant Sally Morgan told the Mirror that for those seeking a sign from the spirit world, one of the first you might receive is a visit from the little songster.
“Robins are free,” said Sally. “They fly in, they fly out,” suggesting that the birds are spirits who “want to say hello.”
Sally added that people will know it’s their loved one as they will instantly think of a spouse, friend or relative who has passed on.
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