|
Blackbird Symbol
There is no exact definition for any symbol;
each symbol is open to
interpretation and birds are no exception to this. Their symbolism can
vary greatly depending on different cultures and religion. The Blackbird is generally thought to
be a symbol of temptations of the flesh and it
has a deep significance to Christians as a religious symbol. The Devil appeared to St
Benedict to tempt him in the form of a blackbird. It is also
considered a symbol of the human soul and symbolizes intelligence,
wisdom and joy.
Blackbird Symbol
- Meaning
In England
the Blackbird is a species of thrush (Turdus merula). In America,
it is known as Eurasian Blackbird. It is a territorial bird and
displays a unique "bow and run" display to deter other birds. This
display involves a short run, with the head of the bird first raised
and then bowed while dipping its tail simultaneously. The blackbird
is a singing bird with several distinct 'calls'. There are many
varieties of new world blackbird but they are from the icterid
family and although share the same name, they are from a different
species, they include:
-
Rusty Blackbird also known as the Rusty Grackle (Euphagus
carolinus)
-
Austral Blackbird (Curaeus curaeus)
-
Bolivian Blackbird (Agelaioides oreopsar)
-
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
-
Yellow-winged Blackbird (Agelasticus thilius)
-
Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives)
-
Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Chrysomus ruficapillus)
-
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
-
Cuban Blackbird (Dives atroviolaceus)
-
Forbes's Blackbird (Curaeus forbesi)
-
Jamaican Blackbird (Nesopsar nigerrimus)
-
Pale-eyed Blackbird (Agelasticus xanthophthalmus)
-
Red-breasted Blackbird (Sturnella militaris)
-
Scarlet-headed blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus)
-
Tawny-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius humeralis)
-
Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)
-
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus)
Blackbird Symbol -
Nursery Rhymes
Blackbirds are a
popular symbol in nursery rhymes and in literature. The following traditional English
children's rhyme 'Sing a song of sixpence' is also often referred to as
'Blackbirds in a Pie'. This rhyme was believed to parody the
relationship between King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn who was
Henry's second wife. In preparation for a visit by the King to the home
of Anne Boleyn, 'netters' were sent out into the fields of the estate
with rye in their pockets to spread around to catch a mass of
blackbirds. Two dozen blackbirds, feathers still on, were baked into a
massive pie that looked beautiful on the outside. The line 'The maid
was in the garden hanging out the clothes' is believed to refer to
Anne Boleyn who had been a maid (lady) in waiting to Queen Katherine
when Henry took a fancy to her. Jane Seymour became a lady in waiting to
Anne Boleyn when she became Queen. These ambitious women encouraged
Henry in his attentions making sure they made their charms very obvious
and appealing (hanging out their clothes). The line ' When down came a
blackbird and pecked off her nose!' symbolises those who are tempted by
carnal pleasures. Anne Boleyn was eventually beheaded and Jane Seymour
died following the birth of her son.
'Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!'
Blackbird Symbol - Christian Significance
A medieval
book called a Bestiary had allegorical descriptions of real and
fabled animals including the Blackbird. These books were often full
of symbolism and contained a moral or religious lesson or allegory.
A Bestiary reflected the belief that the world itself was the Word
of God, and that every living creature had its own special meaning.
The Aberdeen Bestiary which was written in the 12th Century contains
the following information regarding the blackbird as a religious
symbol:
-
The blackbird represents those who are tempted by carnal
pleasures
-
The blackbird in flight represents the temptation to desire
-
A
white blackbird represents purity of will
-
To reject the desire symbolised by the blackbird, you must
discipline yourself and thus rid yourself of pleasures of the
mind by inflicting pain on your flesh
Blackbird Symbol -
Facts
-
The term 'Blackbirding' refers to the slave trade. From the
1860s people were kidnapped and tricked known as 'blackbirding'
to mine the guano deposits on the Chincha Islands in Peru and
from the 1870's they were recruited to work in the sugar
plantations in Queensland, Australia and Fiji
-
Blackbird is a slang term for the local indigenous people of
Queensland, Australia, they are also called 'Kanaka'
-
A
common blackbird only lives for about two and a half years
-
In early Christian writing, the Blackbird is a symbol of evil
-
The Devil appeared to St Benedict to tempt him in the form of a
blackbird
-
The Blackbird is commonly thought to symbolise temptation of the
flesh
-
The Greeks considered the
Blackbird a sacred bird because of
its beautiful singing
-
Native Aborigines believed that birds carried stories
Blackbird Symbol -
Dream Explanation
-
Dreaming of a blackbird, is a bad omen and a sign of impending
bad luck
-
A
dream where you see a Blackbird also means your lack of
motivation and that you are not utilizing your full potential
-
Dreaming of a flying blackbird however means good fortune.
Dream Interpretation
- Significance of Bird Symbol
The following
explanation of dreams involving birds in general is taken from the book entitled 'Dream
Dictionary (10,000 Dreams Interpreted - by Gustavus Hindman Miller)':
-
It is a favorable symbol in a dream to see birds of beautiful plumage. A
wealthy and happy partner is near if a woman has dreams of this
nature
-
Moulting and song less birds, could denote merciless and inhuman
treatment of the outcast and fallen by people of wealth
-
To see a wounded bird, is a symbol of fateful of deep sadness caused by
erring offspring
-
To see flying birds, is a symbol of prosperity to the dreamer. All
disagreeable environments will vanish before the wave of
prospective good
-
To catch birds, is not at all bad. To hear them speak, is owning
one's inability to perform tasks that demand great clearness of
perception.
Blackbird Symbol
|
