The Cardinal Christmas

The first Cardinal Christmas I remember was a lovely Christmas my mother made for the family. We had a beautiful real Christmas tree that year flocked with white snow. The base was a musical one and the tree was covered in red cardinal Christmas ornaments. That year my mother told me that she didn't want to go to sleep.

Every one was healthy and my difficult father was even on good behavior that Christmas. My mother stayed up all night embracing every detail. The fire was lit, and she watched the Yule log and listened to the Christmas music on the television. There was plenty to eat in the house and the gifts were all wrapped and underneath the tree.

The following year my grandfather died and things were difficult for many years to follow. But her faith had been strengthened during that miraculous Christmas. The red symbol helped her through many gray days that lie ahead.



When the symbols started appearing last year, beautiful white flocked wreaths given to me by a friend; and boxes of red cardinals made available to me; I used the cardinal as my theme. I made a cardinal covered wreath for my mother and my front door. Christmas cards started coming in from all around the world with red cardinals on the designs. A beautiful red cardinal frequents our bird feeder which I can see from my window as I write.


When I went to Tower Hill, the red cardinal ornaments were everywhere and on every tree. I bought my mother a red cardinal broach to wear on her coat. I was prompted when I arrived home, to look up the true symbol of the cardinal and find its special meaning.

I found the description of the cardinal below. I could not help but notice that the cardinal is bright red to remind us of Christ during the dreary gray days of winter ahead. I also noticed the address of the place that offered this symbol definition. It is 25 Christmas Lane in Frankenmuth, Michigan. I would like to imagine my late father, Frank and my late German Grandmother showering down this reminder from heaven so that I surely remember to memorize its wonder.

Symbol of the Cardinal
"Christened the Christmas bird for its spectacular red color, the cardinal has become a symbol of the beauty and warmth of the holiday season. A glimpse of this brilliant bird brings cheer, hope and inspiration on a gray, wintry day. As nature's reminder for us to focus on our faith, the cardinal's scarlet plumage represents the blood of Christ shed for the redemption of mankind." From Bronners Christmas Wonderland, 25 Christmas Lane, Frankenmuth, Michigan.