The night after Jesus was born in the stable, it was very cold. Joseph went out to search for wood because the fire he had kindled for Mary and the Babe was in danger of going out. He was away longer than he intended because he could not find much wood. Mary became anxious that the fire might go out before his return – she was worried about the Babe because she knew he must be cold. Suddenly some small brown birds which had been roosting outside the stable, flew in and made a circle round the dying fire. They began to fan it with their wings and as the sparks appeared, the remaining twigs and straw caught fire and burnt away. Mary threw the last handful of straw onto the glowing embers and the little brown birds hopped closer and beat the air with their wings even more vigorously. In this way they kept the fire alight until Joseph returned with sticks and logs. But Mary saw that the birds had scorched their breasts with their efforts to save the fire, so she said to them, “ Because of the love you have shown to my Child, from henceforth you little brown birds shall always have fiery red breasts in memory of your deed of keeping the fire alight. People will always love you and will call you Robin Redbreast.”

And that is how the Robins got their red breasts.

From Festivals, Family and Food by D Carey and J Large