Cardinals Christmas

When I observe a new trend, it usually turns out that everyone else recognized the trend 20 or 30 years ago. Such might well be the case with cardinals on Christmas cards. Is it new, or has this been going on for a while, escaping my notice?

Turning to Google, I find out that cardinals are the unofficial bird of Christmas. They can’t get free meals at Cracker Barrel, at least not now, not until they’re official. Why are they the Christmas bird?

 

Most “why” questions can be answered with this word: Money. But not this one. The cardinals are not bribing Hallmark.

 

They’re red, that’s why. Red equals Christmas. Plus, the campaign on social media – started by whom? – to have us believe that cardinals come around to show us that Aunt Bessie, who died last year, isn’t really gone. She sent the red-winged guy to remind us that she loves us.

 

We’ll be seeing more of these critters on Christmas cards in the future. Aunt Bessie will see to it.

 

And while we’re forecasting the future, there is this: If history has taught us anything, sometime soon we can expect the females to organize protests and chirp their way to equality. They’ve been underrepresented on Christmas cards and they’re just a bit pissed about that.