Tag: christmas robin

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The 5 Prettiest Robin Decorations in 2023

A selection of Robin themed Christmas tree decorations and ornaments displayed against a backdrop of hessian, inside a wooden crate.

We know that Christmas Day is on its way when we start to see the tell-tale signs in nature; nights get longer, the ground gets frosty, plants go to sleep in preparation for a new year of blooming… But one thing that we all look forward to is the more frequent appearance of the beautiful European robin, whose numbers in the UK swell as our robins stay local and many others migrate here to avoid the harsher winters of the Baltic states. These birds, with their many legends and symbolic meanings, hold a special place in the hearts of many which makes them very popular in Christmas displays across the country. 

At The Olde Christmas Shoppe, we are never short of robin decorations for the tree and the mantlepiece, and so we have compiled this handy list of our top 5 favourite robin decorations for your Christmas tree this year to give you the best décor and gift inspiration!

1. Postbox with Robin Decoration

“This beautiful British post box with a beautiful robin couldn’t get any more festive –  in traditional festive red with added hints of crisp white snow, this classic Christmas decoration will look fantastic on any tree.”

Pillar Box with Robin

Dimensions: 12cm

Material(s): Painted Ceramic

Colours: Red, Black, White

Price: £8.99

Why We Love This Decoration

This lovely traditional tree decoration is one of the most consistently popular amongst our range, and is often bought as a gift to someone special. The classic pillar postbox topped with snow is in itself an iconic emblem of the British Christmas season which brings to mind the excitement and anticipation of posting your Christmas cards and letter to Santa Claus the good old fashioned way, as well as complimenting most other decorations with its fetching festive red. This is enough to make this one of our favourite all-time decorations, and the tiny brown and red robin sitting atop the postbox is a sweet addition to this nostalgic piece!

2. Mesmerising Matt Gold Bauble with Robin & Holly – 8cm

“Brighten up the branches of your Christmas tree with this lovely and bright glass bauble, brought to us by the talented designer Gisela Graham.”

Mesmerising Matt Gold Bauble with Robin & Holly - 8cm
Matt Gold Bauble with Robin

Dimensions: 8cm

Material(s): Glass

Colours: Gold, Green, Brown, Red

Price: £6.99

Why We Love This Decoration:

We fell in love with this bauble’s soft glowing colours as soon as we saw it, with a warm golden matt base that casts a slight shimmer across the bauble. The realistic robin design in the centre, toadstools and holly leaves all combine to give the bauble a rustic woodland feel that seems oh so Christmas-y! 

3. Perching Robin Decorations

“Get in touch with the natural side of the Christmas season with these adorable assorted robin decorations to hang from your branches… perched in various poses on top of tree nuts for an element of wintery realism.”

Robin tree decorations
Robins on Various Nuts

Dimensions: 9.5cm

Material(s): Painted Resin

Colours: Brown, Red, Green

Variations: Robins Perching On Hazelnut / Acorn / Pinecone / Conker

Price: £6.99

Why We Love This Decoration:

We love this set of robin decorations in all of its different styles for its combination of rustic quality, natural colours and impressive realistic carved detailing. Each bird is expertly painted with soft muted watercolour and hung with a piece of homey twine – any of these lifelike robin decorations would fit perfectly on a nature-inspired Christmas tree, nestled in pinecones and holly, or perhaps as a gift for the avid birdwatcher or casual nature enthusiast!

4. Red Robin and Bluetit Bauble

“Fly into Christmas with one of this beautiful selection of bird-inspired baubles by the wonderful Gisela Graham. These baubles each have a fabulously festive matte red base and both a beautiful bluetit and winter robin expertly painted and adorned with poinsettia wreaths…”

Red Bauble with Robin and Bluetit, 2 Sided

Dimensions: 8cm

Material(s): Glass Bauble

Colours: Red, Green, White, Blue

Price: £5.99

Why We Love This Decoration:

This bauble is the perfect blend of festive fun and tradition, making it a perfect bauble to suit almost any Christmas tree style. With both a robin and a bluetit emblazoned on either side of the festive red bauble, it appeals to bird enthusiasts as well as us Christmas lovers, and the added details of pretty poinsettia flowers and glitter give the decoration a touch of welcome Christmas glitz and glam.

5. Gift Bag Figurine with Robin and Gold Tree

“Mix whimsy and tradition with the sweet robin figurine, perched preciously upon a sack of brightly painted red-and-gold Christmas presents – the festive glittering golden Christmas tree poking out from the bag gives this traditional ornament a little  bit of fun and sparkle.”

Robin and Gift Bag Ornament

Dimensions:  17cm x 11cm

Material(s): Resin, Wire, Glitter

Colours: Brown, Red, Gold, Green

Price: £10.99

Why We Love This Decoration:

The vibrant colours of this beautiful ornament are what immediately catches your eye, with its metallic painted gifts and of course the ever-welcome addition of lashings of golden glitter on the tree poking out from the brown gift bag. Most importantly, the ornament features our favourite bird – a small realistic-style robin with mesmerising eyes and an added subtle sprinkle of gold dust on its wings. We think that this sweet figurine would look especially perfect amongst a traditional Christmas display featuring festive reds and greens!

To learn more about these amazing wee winter birds and their connections to Christmas, be sure to check out some more of our Christmas Robin blogs linked below. Merry Christmas, all!

What Does It Mean When You See A Robin?

Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash

Why Are Robins Linked With Christmas?

Photo by laura adai on Unsplash

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Why Are Robins Linked With Christmas?

Merry Christmas everyone, from The Olde Christmas Shoppe! There are many iconic images that come to mind when we think of Christmas time – candy canes, Christmas trees and presents, to name a few! But one of the most loved symbols of the festive season can be found right on our doorstep: robins! While these birds are around all year long, they are much more noticeable in the winter time as they don’t migrate to warmer climates, choosing instead to move between their breeding grounds and foraging grounds at home – this is one reason among many why the robin has become synonymous with Christmas time, especially here in the UK.

Robins on a Christmas tree
Photo by laura adai on Unsplash

Seasonal migration isn’t the only reason that we associate these lovely creatures with the festive season in the UK – to find out why, we need to go all the way back to Victorian Britain in the 19th century. The centuries-old tradition of sending out Christmas cards, while it seems pretty old-school for many in today’s world of technology, fell into fashion under the rule of Queen Victoria who began the royal tradition of sending an official Christmas card – it then became more popular amongst the people as a way to spread cheer during the festive season. The nation’s lingering association of robins with Christmas comes from this tradition as the postmen who would deliver the season’s greetings wore red-breasted uniforms which gained them the nickname ‘robins’. This fun nickname then appears to have led to the featuring of robins on Christmas cards themselves, and now they are a well-established emblem of all things festive!

As well as this old British tradition, the robin also features in some interpretations of the traditional Nativity story, the Christian roots of everybody’s favourite holiday. After the birth of Jesus, some believe that Mary lit a fire to keep her child safe and warm, and as the flame began to dwindle a kindly brown bird began to fan the flame with its tiny wings before an ember landed on and burned its feathered chest – this has become a common tale explaining the bold orange-red breast of the robin, and links the beautiful bird to the very beginning of the Christmas story!

To find out more about these amazing birds, check out this super-informative RSPB page as well as our other blogs, including a look at the symbolism of robins and loads of other fun Christmas tips and inspiration!

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Robins and why we love to see them!

Merry Christmas from The Olde Christmas Shoppe! One of our favourite things about the festive season – from autumn through to the new year – is the appearance of the beautiful robin, the beloved small bird that is distinguished by its signature red breast. People are often mystified by this small creature when it begins to appear in our gardens, largely due to the robin’s symbolism across many different cultures which give them many roles from an omen of death to a more positive emblem of rebirth, hope and new beginnings…

The Legends of the Robin

Robin image by James Wainscoat
Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash

Even in the UK nations alone, there are a number of different stories and superstitions about the arrival of a robin between our Celtic, Norse and Christian influences as well as location-specific folk tales. These tiny birds are loved by many in Britain, even despite their Norse roots as the favourite creature of the god Thor and the symbolic bringer of the ever-inconvenient thunderstorm! Don’t just take our word for it – the robin red-breast has been voted the unofficial National Bird of Great Britain by the public twice in 60 years, and in Irish and other Celtic traditions they were in fact so loved and venerated that to kill a robin or wren was believed to bring the punishment of fire to the hunter in some way. This particular superstition seemingly comes from an old Irish legend, a tale in which the fires of heaven were brought to earth by a very similar small bird – clearly, these winged creatures are not the birds to mess with! 

Of course, this is not the only time that the sweet little bird has been featured in a religious context – the robin is also often associated with the biblical story of Jesus’ crucifixion, and is said to have gotten its signature red breast from the thorns of Jesus’ crown as the bird took pity and attempted to free him from the cross despite the risk to itself. From this story of the robin, many take a message of hope and kindness towards others less fortunate than yourself which is of course an important lesson that everyone can put to work in their day-to-day lives. 

In modern times, however, perhaps one of the most popular superstitions surrounding these beautiful wee birds is the common adage that “robins appear when loved ones are near”. This lovely sentiment comes from the belief that robins are in fact loved ones visiting from beyond this life, checking in on their families and friends during the festive season which can be difficult for many dealing with loss. It is for this reason that robin decorations and ornaments are often seen as a popular and thoughtful Christmas gift for those who have experienced loss – while the robin is associated in this way with death, they bring a more positive message of love and hope to such a sad time and offer a way for us to feel connected to loved ones who are no longer with us for Christmas. To join in this beautiful festive tradition, be sure to check out our own range of lovely little robin decorations for your tree or the tree of a loved one here.

Thank you for joining us on this festive journey as we’ve learned about Christmas traditions. To learn more check out these sources below and, as always, please have a browse of some of our other blogs here for the latest festive facts and decorating tips this Christmas season!

The Guardian, ‘Robin Wins Vote For UK’s National Bird’. 10 June 2015.

BirdSpot, ‘The Legend of Robin Redbreast’.

7 of the prettiest bird decorations for Christmas 2022