To the unfaithful, however, they serve as a reminder to be true to one’s partner.Ĭardinal birds are known to always lay 12 eggs, and this number is seen as being lucky to some tribes. They are thought to be an omen to single people that they will find love soon, while to those already in a relationship, they promise the passion in the relationship is about to be rekindled. Their courtship and loving devotion have also not gone unnoticed, and to many Native American tribes, they also symbolize romantic love, courtship and monogamy. Some tribes believe that cardinals are messengers from the spirit world, which is closely related to the idea that they bring messages of comfort to those who have suffered a bereavement. The meanings Native American tribes attribute to cardinals varies, but they are almost universally seen in a positive light. However, they are so bright and distinctive animals, so it is unsurprising that there are many beliefs and traditions related to them in Native American traditions. Since cardinals are native to the Americas, they don’t feature in the mythology of any cultures from the Old World. These birds are known to defend their territory fiercely when challenged, so they are connected to the idea of establishing boundaries, and since they are so intelligent, they are also thought of as representing the ability to take advantage of opportunities.įinally, there is a well-known saying that “when cardinals appear, angels are near” – they are associated with messages from the spirit world, and often bring comfort to those who have recently lost loved ones. They don’t migrate either – instead, they live in the same place year-round, which means they have also come to symbolize the home. In fact, this red color is why they are called cardinals in the first place since they share the color with the robes worn by the cardinals of the Catholic church.Ĭardinals are also songbirds, and the red color coupled with their bright and cheerful song makes them welcome visitors, especially during the cold and dreary months of winter, so they are often associated with uplifting feelings of hope and joy.Īnother important feature of cardinals is that they mate for life, which makes people think of true love, monogamous relationships and staying faithful to one’s partner. There are several different species, and they can come in different colors, but probably the color we think of first with these birds is red. A welcome sign and an omen of good fortuneīefore we look at the symbolism of cardinals, let’s think about the characteristics of these birds and the kind of things we associate them with.Īmong the most striking features of cardinals is their color.Telling you not to fear death or be too attached to the physical world Telling you a loved one has arrived safely in heaven What does it mean if you see a cardinal?.Native American stories about cardinals.Cardinals in Native American traditions.

Hawk angel messenger