My late father came back to me as a robin - now he sings to me every time I'm sad: Just one heartwarming tale of comfort among thousands

Robins are regular visitors to gardens and green spaces during the autumn and winter months in the UK. With their distinctive red breast and cheerful chirping, robins are a firm favourite among Britons but, for some, the sight of them can hold a deeper meaning.

For those who have lost a loved one, the friendly bird is seen as a symbol of the person they have lost or even a reincarnation of them. An unexpected appearance can bring great joy and relief for those who believe a visit form the wintry bird is a sign from their deceased relatives, friends, or spouses that they are nearby and still watching over them.

Countless stories have been shared by individuals affected by grief and loss, who have experienced a moment of comfort when a robin has visited during a particularly dark time. Dozens of people have written to MailOnline after believing their loved one has come back to them as a robin.

The idea that robins are reincarnated love ones dates back to ancient British folklore. And that was the case for Sarah Voss, whose father tragically died in March 2022. In an interview with FEMAIL, the grieving daughter recalled how she was comforted by the sight of a robin that appeared in her garden on the one-year anniversary of his passing.

Any time she is sad, Sarah added, 'they start singing'. 'My dad was a singer in a band when he was young,' she continued, outlining the reasons she believes the robin is actually her father 'checking in on' his family from beyond the grave. For those who have lost a loved one, the friendly bird is seen as a symbol of the person they have lost or even a reincarnation of them. This was the case for British woman Sarah Voss (not pictured) who tragically lost her father in March 2022 (Photo above is a stock image).

Sarah said robins started nesting in a tree outside her window just weeks after her father died. Sarah said: 'My dad passed away in March 2022. 'Some of his last words were telling the doctor he wanted to be around to watch his grandsons grow up.'. Two days after he died, she continued, 'we took my mum to a garden centre for Mother's Day' - only to discover a robin was following them the entire time.

'When we ate in the restaurant, the robin sat outside the window,' she recalled. Within a few weeks of her father's demise, robins had begun nesting in the trees outside Sarah's window. She said: 'One would sit right outside the window looking in for hours. They didn't fly away when I was near and seemed really brave.'.

Then, on the one-year anniversary of her father's, she noticed the robin was sitting outside, in her garden. 'I noticed the pot I put food in was almost empty so I went out to fill it,' she continued, adding. 'The robin was sitting on the pot, and it didn't fly away as I approached it.

It's become a rare yet welcome sight spotting a robin whilst out and about - but for some people, a 'visit' from the red-breasted bird can hold a much deeper and more spiritual meaning. One mother, Marie Robinson, who lost son, Jack (pictured), to a brain tumour, was shocked to receive a 'sign' from her little boy when she visited his grave on the anniversary of his death.

'I got right up to it and managed to stroke its tummy before it hopped off! I even managed to video this and my husband got photos from inside the house,' she exclaimed. 'I like to think that this was my dad coming to check in on us and especially his grandson!' Sarah continued. 'The robins come back every year and anytime I am sad, they start singing.

'My dad was a singer in a band when he was young.'. In Celtic mythology, the robin was a symbol of passion as well as new beginnings and were believed to bring messages of hope and rebirth. Robins are often linked to Christmas and the story of Christ in Christian symbolism. Some Christians believe a robin was by Jesus’s side at the crucifixion, and its red breast is said to have come from a drop of his blood.

Other legends say a small brown bird fanned the flames of a fire to keep the baby Jesus warm - with its chest burning and turning red. Many Brits will also be familiar with the phases: 'Robins appear when loved ones are near' - the belief that seeing a robin means a late loved one is looking down on you.

On social media, others have shared their ethereal encounters with robins, with many posting their experiences on the popular Facebook page, Robins Appear When Loved Ones Are Near. One mother, who lost son to a brain tumour, was shocked to receive a 'sign' from her little boy when she visited his grave on the anniversary of his death.

Jack Robinson, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, died aged four on April 1st 2014. Three years later, in April 2017, his mother Marie, now 53, asked her little boy to give her a sign before visiting his grave later that day. When she arrived at the cemetery she sat down on the grass next to Jack's burial spot - it was then she noticed a little robin was flying around and trying to land on her.