Forget the Eagle, Peacock, Owl or Dove ... are you a Canary?
What's in a bird?
That is the question, and I sought out to answer it. After some time of searching, I have come to the conclusion that there is more than just a character from Alice and Wonderland.
If you are not familiar with the idea of birds in heraldry, then you should know that each color and shape has its own significance. Some represent locations or various animals; others symbolize dates or seasons. All these things are true for birds of prey as well as for other birds at different times of year- but what about canaries specifically?
The answer lies within their symbolism in history and art.
Canaries were once used to detect gas leaks. Basically, canary birds would be placed in a closed room with a miner who was working in a very-high-risk environment (i.e. possible carbon monoxide leak). If the canary began falling asleep, you knew that there was something wrong with the air- quality and you needed to get to safety as soon as possible. The color yellow is also said to have been chosen for its poisonous properties that reflected the dangers of working in these environments.
We've all heard the term "to let the canary out of the cage"- meaning to put someone in a situation that is too dangerous. Some even say that sailors let canaries loose on their ships. If they went missing or died, then you knew that there was a problem and often changed course.
Canaries were also used as a metaphor for an informant or one who gave up secrets. For example, if you did something to get yourself in trouble for your master/boss, then he would have no problem telling everyone about it- just as how a canary will sing when it's about to die.
The Flemish word "kannaertje" was used to describe the birds in their natural habitat: the dunes and marshes of the low-lying coastal regions of the Netherlands. The song of a male is said to sound like someone saying "kannitje", which is where they got their name.
There are three main colors associated with canaries: yellow, white and grey (very rarely used).
Yellow Canaries were also known as golden canaries. They were associated with Summer, joy, happiness and warmth.
Gray Canaries were often described as migrating birds in Dutch literature. They represented peace and tranquility (rewards for hard work). The only known grays in heraldry were for this reason. The colors grey and white were rarely used separately until the 20th century.
White Canaries symbolized purity, innocence, honesty and love. White canaries also appeared to hold a special meaning for the Dutch: In their Middelburg city seal, they appear on the crosses of soldiers who died in the Battle of Sluis (1589).
In German literature, canaries are described as pied-grays. They are often described as "pigeons" or "little doves" (perhaps because they can be kept in cages).
Most canary-colors are also known as "eagles", "peacocks", "owls" and "doves".
The yellow bird in Alice's dream is specifically described as a canary. It's not only the fact that they sing beautifully, but they also represent a peaceful environment. Here are some heraldic examples (all the birds have in mind these meanings):
(Left to right) English: dovecote; French: dôme, doux; German: Dautel, Taube, Adler; Spanish: èguila blanca, ataúde blanco; Portuguese: gavião branco; Italian: spettro avorio.
What are Canary birds saying?
If you've read the story "Alice in Wonderland", you should know that the original text never mentions any specific bird by name. But if you ask children to draw proverbs, you'll find a lot of canaries:
The yellow bird seems to represent the wife in a marriage: She is married to her husband. The white bird represents the husband.
Some English proverbs use only two birds, i.e. white and yellow:
I can sing a song or tell a story or I can walk two ways, but I cannot do both.
There are two birds that are eternal- love, laughter, friendship and felicity.
The triple-colored bird is the perfect symbol for everyone: the three months of summer, the most beautiful woman in the world (who has a red dress) and her lover (who has blue eyes). All three are friends. And all three of them love each other.
Escaping death is equivalent to the escaping horrid diseases of cancer, AIDS, etc.
The Canary bird is the eternal example of a married woman who loves her husband:
She lets him out of his cage just for a bit, even though she would rather see him stay there. But he is free to love her and be happy. And she is free to make sure he can still breathe fresh air.
Canaries are faithful birds that never leave you . If you find yourself in the dark, they will show the way by their songs (their music). They never betray you. You can count on them. And if you are feeling alone, then canaries will sing softly to you and remind that there is always someone who cares about you in this world.
Canary Zodiac
Do you think that your hobby is enough to draw attention? Are your clothes not up to par? Can't find your dream job? Do not be ashamed ... and do not run away! There are more ways than many to look great, but right now, we'll talk about the stars ...
There is a story in Greek mythology about a man named Hipias who was afraid of the dogs' barking, so he ran away from his village.
Conclusion
What does it mean to have a canary as a companion? It means that you will be with someone who cares about you and wants to see you succeed. It also means that, like the canary, you will be both happy and saved, but will never forget where you came from. [1] http://www.brittanica.com/EBchecked/topic/362776/canary [2] http://www.fantastic-fiction.co.uk/d/derick-j-ashe/alice-in-wonderland.htm [3] http://www.colorcombosforfunandprofit.
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