Merry Christmas everyone. Not sure how many of you will be posting this week but Bird of the Week will continue. This week lets see birds that remind you of Christmas - might be their colours, their presence at this time of year or some behaviour that, for you, endears them to the Christmas season.
I am on holidays till the 13th of Jan but will still be popping in here to check on things so I won't be far away if needed. Everyone have a wonderful Christmas and New Year - I hope you all get the time to do some birding and make some lovely sightings.
Cheers
Holly
All dressed up to go to the Christmas Party.
M-L
Almost, just this bit.... now I'm ready. Where are the girls? Anyone want to dance with me?
M-L
I'm ready, I'm in my best attire.
M-L
You can't compete with me, I'll get all the good looking girls at the Christmas Party, I even had my hair done. Just look at it.
M-L
Hmm Christmas, just like any other day of the year to me.....there is always " just fish " for dinner. Might stay at home.
M-L
Yes,the festive season, you eat too much, you drink too much, and then.........you feel like this.....
M-L
There is some very interesting information about the "Christmas Colours", too much to put up here, but worth reading.
The Origin of Christmas Colors
There are two accepted beliefs about the origin of traditional Christmas colours, one based on Christian faith, and the other based on historical fact.
Christian Belief
The color green is a natural representation of eternal life, specifically the evergreen tree and how it survives through the winter season. That’s why, in Christian belief, green represents the eternal life of Jesus Christ. The color red symbolizes Christ’s blood which was shed during his crucifixion.
Historical Fact
Back in the 14th Century, churches presented Miracle Plays—religious plays used to educate the illiterate public. Traditionally on December 24, the church presented The Paradise Play, the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. And in place of an apple tree—as they weren’t available in winter—they fastened apples to the branches of a pine tree. Using a pine to represent the Tree of Good and Evil became a common practice among churches and they began incorporating the tree into their Christmas displays each year. But it didn’t stop there. Following the church’s example, people began assembling pine trees in their homes and decorating them with red apples. This act introduced two modern traditions: the Christmas tree and our seasonal colors, green for the pine tree and red for the apples.
Cultural Symbolism of Green and Red
While green and red may be the widely accepted colors denoting the Christmas season, the individual colors have had different meanings from one culture to the next.
I still remember my grandmother hanging red apples on her tree.
So, I the King Parrot comes to mind.
M-L
Red-capped Robin has red & white colours
Peter
With the Australian Painted Snipe having been at the wetlands for over 4 weeks now and always being too far away, yesterday i got an early Xmas present with him being close enough to the hide to get some decent shots.
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Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/