The Robin is 6 inches long from the tip of the beak to the end of the spun glass tail. The Life Sized Bird Ornament has a pale goldenrod face and back with iridescent frosted white glitter on the wings and dark gray on the top of his head. The Robins breast and beak are bright medium orange. The Robins tail is white spun glass. The Robin will clip onto any branch of your tree. Select this link to view our Blown Glass Birds.
How to arrange the spun glass tails.
Most of our bird Christmas glass ornaments have tails of spun glass that are shipped with the tails bunched together. If you would like to have the tail fan out, hold your bird Christmas decoration at the base of the tail. Then flick the end of the spun glass tail with your finger until it looks how you would like it. Select this link to view our Ornament Storage Boxes.
Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas song, as we know it today, was written in England as a catechism song. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to openly practice their faith. An anonymous individual wrote the Twelve Days of Christmas as a memory song for young Christians to learn the important principles and tenents of their religion. The song’s gifts are code words for the hidden meaning and connection to the teachings of their faith, known only to the members of their church at that time.
- 1st Day- Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ
- 2nd Day- Two Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testament
- 3rd Day- Three French Hens = Faith, Hop and Charity
- 4th Day- Four Calling Birds = The four Gospels and or the four Evangelists
- 5th Day- Five Golden Rings = The first five books of the Old Testament
- 6th Day- Six Geese A Laying = The six days of Creation
- 7th Day- Seven Swans A Swimming = The seven gifts to the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
- 8th Day- Eight Maids A Milking = The eight beatitudes
- 9th Day- Nine Ladies Dancing = The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
- 10th Day- Ten Lords A Leaping = The Ten Commandments
- 11th Day- Eleven Pipers Piping = The eleven faithful Apostles
- 12th Day- Twelve Drummers Drumming = The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed
History of bird ornaments.
Bird Christmas ornaments are considered a universal symbol of happiness and joy and are regarded by many to be a necessity on the Christmas ornament tree. Glassblowers would often carefully capture wild birds in the autumn to keep in cages in their workshops and to shelter them during the winter months. The sound of the gas flame from the Bunsen burners used to make glass hand blown ornaments would prompt the birds to sing throughout the day, thereby entertaining the entire family. Because bird Christmas ornaments were difficult to create, few glassblowing families in Germany specialized in the making of these special antique Christmas glass ornaments.
In Germany, it is believed that birds assist Santa in monitoring the actions of little ones to ensure that they are good. A friend to young and old, Christmas would not be the same without Christmas birds.
Many collectors remember the lovely glass bird ornaments delicately perched on their grandmother’s tree, which is one reason birds have continued to be among the most coveted of European glass ornaments. Even today, bird Christmas ornaments represent messengers of love and the bird Christmas harbingers of good things to come.
Early German Christmas postcards, books, and chromolithographs often depict St. Nicholas accompanied by one or more colorful songbirds perched on his shoulder, staff, or by his side. Before Christmas, cheery glass bird ornaments are placed throughout the German home as “Watch Birds.” Children are aware that the bird Christmas decorations are Santa’s friends who monitor and report back to him whether they have been good boys and girls. Bird Christmas glass ornaments evoke nostalgic memories of Grandma’s tree and Christmases of yesteryear. Select this link to view our Glass Christmas Ornaments.