A Very Merry Christmas

The Legend of Robin Redbreast

On that first Christmas, it is said, the night 
was wrapped in a bitter chill. The small fire in the 
stable was nearly out, and the Mother Mary worried 
that her baby would be cold. she turned to the animals 
about her and asked them for help. 

"Could you blow on the embers," she asked the ox, "so the 
fire might continue to keep my son warm?" 

But the ox lay sound asleep on the stable floor and did 
not hear her. Next, mary asked the donkey to breathe life 
back into the fire, but the sleeping donkey did not hear 
Mary either. Nor did the horse or sheep. 
She wondered what to do.  		Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).

 

Suddenly, Mary heard a fluttering of little wings. Looking 
up, she saw a plain, brown-coloured little robin fly into 
the stall. This robin had heard Mary calling to the animals 
and had come to help her himself. he went over to the dying 
fire and flapped his wings hard. 

His wings were like little bellows, huffing and puffing air 
onto the embers, until they glowed bright red again. He 
continued to fan the fire, singing all the while, until the 
ashes began to kindle. 

With his beak, the robin picked up some fresh, dry sticks 
and tossed them into the fire. As he did, a flame suddenly 
burst forth and burned the little bird's breast a bright red. 
But the robin simply continued to fan the fire until it 
crackled brightly and warmed the entire stable. The 
Baby Jesus slept happily. 

Mary thanked and praised the robin for all he had done. 
She looked tenderly at his red breast, burned by the flame, 
and said "From now on, let your red breast be a blessed 
reminder of your noble deed." 

And to this day, the robin's red breast covers his humble heart. 

From 'A Christmas Stocking' Louise Betts Egan 

 

            

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