The mourning dove is a common bird found throughout North America known for its distinctive cooing call. This medium-sized, slender dove has long pointed wings and a long tapered tail. Its head and upperparts are a soft grayish-brown, while its underparts are a light pinkish-buff color. The mourning dove has cultural significance and has inspired folklore and mythology across many cultures over time.
Mourning Dove Symbolism and Meaning
The mourning dove is a bird that has accumulated a range of symbolic meanings. Here are some of the key symbolic interpretations of the mourning dove:
- Peace and Pacifism – The mourning dove’s cooing call evokes a sense of peace, calm, and tranquility. Their gentle nature also connects them to pacifism.
- Spirituality – In some Native American tribes, the mourning dove carries spiritual meaning relating to communication with ancestors and spirits.
- Love and Fidelity – The mourning dove’s monogamous breeding habits link them to loyalty and faithfulness in romantic relationships.
- Beauty in Sadness – The mourning dove’s sorrowful call expresses a beauty in sadness. Their mourning evokes nostalgia and poignancy.
- Sacrifice and Loss – As a hunted bird, the mourning dove symbolizes sacrifice and loss in some cultural myths and legends.
- Transition and Change – Their migratory habits associate mourning doves with transition, change, and new beginnings.
Overall, the mourning dove occupies a unique place in folklore and myth as a bird that represents peace and change, love and loss, spirituality and sacrifice.
Mourning Dove Mythology and Folklore
Here are some examples of mythology and folklore surrounding the mourning dove from different cultures:
Greek Mythology
In Greek myth, the mourning dove comes from the tragic story of Thisbe and Pyramus. The two lovers arranged to meet under a mulberry tree, but Thisbe fled after a lion attacked her, leaving behind a blood-stained shawl. Pyramus found the shawl and assumed Thisbe was dead, so he killed himself. Thisbe returned to find Pyramus dead and also took her own life. Their blood stained the mulberries, and the mourning dove’s call was said to come from Thisbe mourning her lost love.
Christian Folklore
In the Christian tradition, the mourning dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Its cooing call is said to remind people to pray. The dove’s sorrowful song is thought to represent the suffering of Jesus Christ. And its gentle nature embodies the peace of the Holy Spirit.
Native American Folklore
For some Native American tribes, the mourning dove carries cultural meaning. Cherokee myths connect the mourning dove with spirit-messengers. Navajo folklore sees the mourning dove as a sign of impending rain. In Anishinaabe tales, the mourning dove represents sacrifice as its flesh was eaten in hard times.
Celtic and Irish Folklore
In Celtic regions like Ireland, mourning dove symbolism deals more with loss and grief. Irish lore views the mournful dove as a sign that tragedy is on the horizon. Celts saw the mourning dove as an omen of war or hardship. Its sad call is a harbinger of difficult times ahead.
The Mourning Dove in Literature and Poetry
The rich symbolic meanings of the mourning dove have inspired many works of literature and poetry. Here are some examples:
- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Symbolizes the souls of the dead sailors.
- The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth – Evokes melancholy through its sad call.
- Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats – Represents the tragic separation of lovers.
- A White Heron by Sarah Orne Jewett – Embodies solitude, vulnerability, and sacrifice.
- Mourning Dove by Robert Frost – Explores love, loss, and the passing of time.
These works showcase the diverse ways poets have drawn on the mourning dove to convey complex themes and emotions.
The Mourning Dove in Art
Painters and other visual artists have also embraced the mourning dove as a powerful image. Examples include:
- Pablo Picasso – His painting La Colombe features a white dove as a symbol of peace.
- Marc Chagall – Used doves frequently in his works to portray love, like in his pieces The Bridal Chair and The Birthday.
- Berthe Morisot – Her work The Mourning Dove links the bird to grief and loss through its dark coloring.
- Joseph Cornell – Created intricate box assemblages featuring dove imagery, like Untitled (Dovecote).
- Doves by Pablo Picasso – His linocut print focuses completely on the graceful form of the dove.
These artworks highlight the mourning dove’s cultural importance and its ability to convey a multitude of allegorical meanings.
Conclusion
The mourning dove occupies a surprisingly significant place in folklore, mythology, literature, poetry, and art. Across cultures and time periods, its sorrowful song and peaceful nature have inspired symbolic associations with love, grief, sacrifice, spirituality, and change. The dove’s rich meanings and graceful form will likely continue to fascinate artists and writers for generations to come. When we hear the mournful cooing of the dove, it evokes an emotional and symbolic resonance that touches the soul.