By Kat Clark Puca by Lauren Curtis
They strut their stuff from India to Java, from lordly estates in England to zoos in Piscataway, New Jersey. Under the radiant sun, they fan their tails and blind us with the beauty of metallic blue and green “eyes”. They are the enduring, alluring bird called the peacock.
Peacocks are really a form of pheasant. The male is a peacock, the female a peahen and, together, they are called peafowl (Phew! Glad we got THAT straight!). Originally found in the jungles of southwest Asia, they now make their home across the globe, and have figured in the myth and folklore of many nations.
Because of the way the male fans his tail and parades during courtship and mating, peacocks are a symbol of pride (No doubt you’ve heard the saying “proud as a peacock!"). However, they have also been considered the “messengers of the gods.” In the days of western chivalry, solemn oaths were sworn “on the peacock.” This was due to the belief that their “eyes” made them all knowing; they could detect falsehood. The Muslims thought they symbolized both the sun and the moon.
These noble birds were used to safeguard property because legend held that they protected the gates of Paradise itself. Kings and gentry would keep peafowl on their estates and, even today, they freely roam the grounds of such places as Howard Castle in England.
Although the Chinese thought these birds stood for divinity, beauty, status and power, there were other cultures that considered them in league with the devil. One legend claims that a peahen was responsible for letting Satan into the Garden of Eden (She swallowed him as a snake and carried him inside!). Peafowl were thought to have the beauty of an angel and the voice of a devil. In truth, the call of the peahen is eerie, sounding very much like a woman’s scream for “help!”.
Click me to get a peacock coloring page!
In Pagan lands, peacocks were associated with various gods and goddesses. In ancient Greece, they were the prized companions of both Pan and Juno. The goddess Hera was said to have taken the eyes of the giant Argos and placed them on the peacock’s tail. In India, peafowl were the birds of Krishna, who wore their feathers in his hair. Several of the sons of the great god Shiva rode upon peacocks, as did the goddess of poetry, music and wisdom--Sarasvati. The Asian goddess Kwan-Yin is associated with peacock feathers and, in Egypt, the peacock is the bird of the great and powerful Isis--the mother of all goddesses.
Even Christianity embraced this most magical fowl. The early church father, St. Augustine, thought that the peacock’s flesh did not corrupt (or rot), and was the equal to the phoenix. It came to represent resurrection and life after death. The symbol of two peacocks drinking from a chalice stood for rebirth. The eyes in the tail feathers represented the all-seeing aspect of the Church, and the blood of the bird warded against evil spirits. A necklace of amethyst, peacock feathers and sparrow feathers was a talisman against sorcery.
In folklore, peacocks were considered both lucky and unlucky. In Italy, the feathers were thought to give the ‘evil eye’ but, in other societies, they symbolized psychic gifts, and the ability to see Past, Present, and Future. In Native American culture, the feathers were used in healing rituals. By waving them in long, sweeping gestures over the body of the ill person, they removed negative psychic energy and blockages to good health. Feathers, if found, could bring good fortune and harmony. If they were taken into the home, they would provide protection.
So, as you enjoy your summer days beneath azure skies, stop in at a zoo or bird farm. Have a visit with your local peacocks. Tell them they have ugly feet, and see if they fan their tails to boast of their beauty. Keep yours “eyes” on the prize and search for a feather or two, and have luck the whole season through. Happy Litha, everyone!
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