White feathers and what they mean

White feathers from a dove The bird of peace, the white plumage that falls from the flapping wings of a dove symbolises peace and the giving of a white feather is regarded as much the same as offering an open palm. Of course, in the First World War, misguided people handed out white feathers to those they regarded as cowards for not joining up to fight the Hun. How many of those plumes were to be dyed blood red when those men were conscripted to join the army and fight on the Somme? rnThe eye of the peacock Peacocks, with their magnificent plumage, displayed to attract the attention of peahens, offer the most wonderfully long feathers that can be used by milliners and by flower arrangers as their plumes complement flowers perfectly. Pheasants also have an extended plumage for flight, although breeding has made pheasants and partridges happier running along the ground rather than soaring through the air. Perhaps generations of birds being shot out of the sky has taught pheasants to stay firmly on the ground. rnBridal plumes The day of a wedding is a day that few people, male or female, ever forget. For some brides, creating a bridal bouquet or wearing a stole to keep the shoulders warm created out of exquisitely beautiful marabou wedding feathers adds a touch of beauty that satin and silk alone cannot match. rnFeathers UK When you set out to buy feathers the price is surprisingly low when compared to how much pleasure the plumage of birds brings. One of the reasons why plumes of all shapes and lengths are so popular is that their construction is incredibly complicated; i.e. light but strong and interlocking so that birds can easily take to the air. Of course, ostriches are earthbound, and their plumage may not be designed for flight, but at one time their ancestors will have taken to the skies, no doubt blotting out the sun as the enormous feathered beasts soared through the air. As previously mentioned, white feathers have been used both as peace offerings and as cruel messengers denoting cowardice in the receiver; but, in recent years, the white plumes of the dove have taken on a new meaning. People who have recently lost loved ones often report finding white plumes in the most unexpected places and have drawn comfort from their discoveries. Whether you believe in angels and an afterlife is unimportant, if the symbols of love and peace can bring comfort to a person in mourning, it is a beautiful white feather indeed. rnThe long and the short of it Nature offers us magic everyday of our lives but it is only when a bird, high up in a tree, sheds a plume and it gently floats to earth that we appreciate what makes up our extraordinary world. It is said that people cannot live without being online, connected via their iPhone or iPad, but digital pixels and virtual images are nothing compared to the majesty of a single ostrich plume.