The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HOW THE ROBIN GOT ITS RED BREAST.

IT WAS COLD IN THE STABLE AT BETHLEHEM WHEN JESUS WAS BORN. IT HAD
RAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND TRY AS HE MIGHT JOSEPH COULDN'T LIGHT
A FIRE BECAUSE THE WOOD WAS WET. MARY HELD THE BABY TO KEEP HIM WARM
BUT JOSEPH NOTICED HOW SHE SHIVERED FROM THE COLD. HE KEPT FANNING
THE SPARKS WITH HIS HANDS, HOPING TO START A FLAME.
THERE WAS A BIRD IN THE RAFTERS WATCHING ALL THIS, AND WHEN JOSEPH
WENT TO GET MORE STRAW, THE BIRD FLEW DOWN AND BEGAN FANNING THE
SPARKS WITH HIS WINGS. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A FIRE AND THE LITTLE
BIRD BURNED HIS BREAST. THE LITTLE BABE HAD SEEN THE HAPPENINGS AND
HE PROMISED THAT THE BIRD WOULD WEAR THE MARK OF HIS GOOD DEED,
HE WOULD HAVE A RED BREAST. THAT'S HOW THE ROBIN GOT HIS RED BREAST
AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE ONE, THINK OF THIS STORY AND YOU WILL HAVE
THE PEACE OF CHRISTMAS DESCEND UPON YOU.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 06-00-1964