The goldfinches are the most striking members of the finch family, a family of medium-sized passerine birds. These little birds have an attractive coloration on their body. But what about their symbolism?

The goldfinches are symbolic of joy, enthusiasm, positivity, and persistence. In Christianity, these birds have a strong symbolism and are considered to be sacred. In the ancient Egyptian culture, they’re personified as the souls of dead human beings. The Native Americans consider them to be symbolic of prosperity and abundance.

In this article, we will read all about the symbolism of goldfinches, including the interpretation of their dreams and the significance of their totem and spirit.

Goldfinch Symbolism
When you saw a goldfinchfor the first time in your life, what was your first thought? “What a beautiful bird!”, we’re guessing that’s what most of you would’ve thought.

These birds are indeed symbolic of beauty and art. They have various colors present in their plumage, with a vibrant red face, black eyes, and a spray of gold on their flight feathers.

But that’s not all these birds represent. They also symbolize enthusiasm and liveliness. Although they don’t live as long as the larger birds, they live as fully as them, if not more. These birds are bursting with energy all the time, as long as they live.

The spirit of the goldfinches also symbolizes optimism. These birds believe in always looking at the bright side of things. If you ever see their flock at dusk, instead of appearing dull and tired, you’ll find them to be chattering excitedly, as if sharing funny stories of the day.

What Does It Mean To Dream Of Goldfinches?
Goldfinches are vibrant birds that do not have a single dull moment in their lives. You’ll always find them flying around, chirping and chattering among themselves or with friends.

If these birds come to your dream, they could be symbolic of the activity and hustle in your waking life in the near future. However, to interpret the complete meaning of a dream, you must take all its subtle details into account as well.

For instance, what was the goldfinch in your dream doing? Where was it located? What were you doing there? Were you a silent spectator or an active participant in the dream? The answer to these questions could bring a vast difference in your dream’s interpretation.

For instance, if you dreamt of a goldfinch crossing your path, it is a sign that soon you’re going to have an opportunity of meeting many new people. Some of these people will become your acquaintances for life. You must prepare yourself to indulge with them.

Did you see the nest of goldfinches in your dream? Much like a nightingale’s nest dream, the goldfinch’s nest in your dream world is also symbolic of bliss and peace in your family life.

Dreaming of a goldfinch perched on your shoulders also has a positive interpretation. It signifies that something, a conflict or dilemma that has been troubling you for a long time, will soon sort itself out.

If you see a goldfinch staring back at you in your dream, it is a sign that you’re soon going to be a part of an event where people are going to judge you by your appearance and dressing style.

If this event is important to your career or your loved ones, you should do your best to make a good impression. And if that requires you to put more effort into planning your outfit for the day, so be it.

Did you see a goldfinch biting you in your dream? Such a dream is quite unusual because while goldfinches are not fans of being manhandled, they’re not the kind of birds that can act out.

Unfortunately, the interpretation of this dream is not a positive one. The dream indicates that someone in your close circle is envious of your happiness and possessions.

This person might try to get closer to identify your weakness and use them against you. If you meet with anyone who could potentially be this person, treat them with caution.

A goldfinch flying in the sky is symbolic of hope and change. Much like the symbolism of a flying dove dream, this dream is also indicative of growth and development in your future, both personally and professionally.

To dream of two goldfinches fighting one another is not a good sign for your love/married life. It suggests that the conflicts between you and your better half will increase considerably in the near future.

Since fighting between yourselves is only going to make both your lives harder, it would be best if you could handle the whole thing with patience.

Why don’t you sit down with your partner and calmly ask them about what’s bothering them? It might help more than you think.

Did you dream of a bleeding goldfinch? That can’t mean anything good; your dream signifies that either you or someone close to you will find themselves in an accident soon and will end up having a critical health condition for months afterward.

No one would want such a tragedy to befall their loved ones. Therefore, to be extra careful, you should check up on them frequently in the coming weeks.

Similarly, to dream of a dying or a dead goldfinch also has a negative indication. Such a dream can only mean two things: failure and disappointment.

If you’re a part of a team or a project that’s worth a huge amount of money or has a lot at stake, this dream is a sign of bad news for you. It looks like you are not going to succeed at it.

During these trying times, your best course of action would be not to lose hope and wait for things to blow over before you start working on them again.

Goldfinch Symbolism In Different Cultures And Mythologies
Despite their tiny size and lifespan, the goldfinches have a lot to offer us. Since these birds have been around for a long time, it’s only reasonable for them to be a part of the myths, legends, and superstitions of different cultures.
If you’re curious about what they symbolize in various religions and myths, keep reading:

In Christianity
A popular Christian legend associates the goldfinches with Christ and explains the supposed reason behind the red spots on their plumage.

In the legend, when Christ was crucified, with a crown of thorns atop his head, a goldfinch flying by felt deeply moved by his sight. The grace of Christ was so infectious that the foolish bird tried to lessen his pain by removing the thorns from the crown.

As the goldfinch went ahead to do it, the thorn that came out splattered Christ’s blood all over the bird’s plumage. And as holy as Christ’s blood was, instead of coming off, it became a part of all the goldfinches thereafter, staying with as Christ’s blessing.

In some versions of this tale, the robins were believed to be the birds that tried helping Christ; hence, their redbreast. However, the version with goldfinches in it is equally popular.

Due to the goldfinch’s association with the legend, the Christians came to think of the goldfinches as sympathetic birds with big, generous hearts. Moreover, some devout Christians believe that the blood of Christ made these birds pious and sacred.

In Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, one of the major religious views was that after the death of a human being, their soul would take the form of a small bird.

Coincidentally (or not), the description of this bird matches that of a goldfinch in many folklores, with their remarkable throat crescent. Therefore, the sighting of these birds would remind the Egyptians that their souls were in God’s hands.

Additionally, these little birdies were also seen as a symbol of joy, prosperity, and abundance.

In Native American Culture
Much like most of the other cultures, the Native Americans also perceive goldfinches in a positive light.
The bird symbolizes self-expression and liberation for these people; you can learn from their spirits how to live your life authentically and independently.

Some tribes even associate them with attributes of joy, inspiration, and positivity.

Goldfinch Symbolism In Art And Literature
Did you know that religious stories and folklore are not the only places the goldfinches can be found in history?
Well, these birds have ample representation in the fields of art and literature as well. Let’s get you acquainted with how artists and authors perceived these little birdies.