Memorial Ornament Symbols & Their Meanings: Cardinals, Butterflies & More
When you're choosing something to remember someone you love, sometimes it's the smallest detail that makes it feel right.
Maybe your mom always had hummingbirds outside her kitchen window. Maybe cardinals remind you of your grandfather. Or maybe you've started noticing feathers in unexpected places since losing someone you love.
Cardinals, butterflies, dragonflies, doves, feathers, flowers, and paw prints have all become meaningful symbols of remembrance. Their meanings aren't set in stone, of course. What matters most is what a symbol means to you and the memories it brings back.
We're Jen and Chris, the husband-and-wife team behind Forged Flare®. Over the years, we've made a lot of ornaments that were purchased in memory of someone. So many of the notes that come with those orders begin with some version of, "I lost my..." We never take those words — or the reason behind the order — lightly.
So, if you're trying to find a memorial ornament that feels like the person (or pet) you're remembering, here's a little guide to some of the symbols we see chosen most often.
Cardinal: A Little Reminder That Someone Is Near
You've probably heard the saying, "When cardinals appear, angels are near."
For many people, spotting a bright red cardinal after losing someone feels like a little visit — or at least a reminder that the person they love isn't so far away.
Cardinals can also symbolize hope, renewal, and life. There's something especially beautiful about seeing that flash of red against a gray winter sky.
Our Pick
$45.00
It might feel right for: remembering a mom, dad, grandparent, spouse, or someone who simply loved watching the birds outside.
Butterflies and Monarchs: Transformation and New Life
There's a reason butterflies have become such a meaningful symbol of remembrance.
A butterfly begins life one way and emerges completely transformed, which has led many cultures and traditions to associate butterflies with change, renewal, rebirth, and the idea of the soul continuing on.
Monarch butterflies are especially meaningful to some families, while others simply connect butterflies with someone they miss. They're also sometimes chosen in remembrance of a baby lost during pregnancy or infancy.
Our Pick
$45.00
It might feel right for: remembering a mom, grandmother, sister, friend, or baby — especially when butterflies already have a personal connection.
If another color reminds you more of the person you're remembering, we also make a Morpho Blue Butterfly Ornament and a Playful Purple Butterflies Ornament, both $45.
Dragonfly: Change, Peace, and Lightness
Dragonflies spend much of their lives beneath the surface of the water before eventually emerging into the air. Because of that transformation, they've come to symbolize change, renewal, and moving into a lighter place.
They're also associated with happiness, peace, and living fully in the moment.
And for some people, having a dragonfly suddenly appear nearby after a loss can feel like a tiny hello at exactly the right time.
Our Pick
$45.00
It might feel right for: someone who loved the water, nature, or being outdoors — or that person you could never quite imagine sitting still.
White Dove: Peace, Love, and Faith
The white dove has been a symbol of peace for centuries.
For Christians, the dove is also associated with the Holy Spirit. For others, it may simply represent love, hope, freedom, or the comforting idea that someone you love is finally at peace.
That simplicity is part of what makes a dove such a lasting choice for remembrance.
Our Pick
$45.00
It might feel right for: remembering someone whose faith was important to them, or when you simply want a symbol that quietly says peace.
Hummingbird: Joy, Healing, and a Little Bit of Hope
It's hard not to stop what you're doing when a hummingbird suddenly appears.
They're tiny, impossibly quick, and somehow manage to bring a little bit of joy with them. Hummingbirds are often associated with happiness, healing, resilience, and good luck.
For someone who kept a hummingbird feeder or loved spending time in the garden, the connection can be even more personal.
Our Pick
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Ornament
$45.00
It might feel right for: remembering a mom, grandmother, gardener, bird lover, or anyone who always stopped to watch the hummingbirds.
Feather: A Quiet Sign From Above
Finding a feather somewhere unexpected can stop you in your tracks, especially after you've lost someone.
Many people see feathers as little signs from loved ones or angels — almost like a quiet way of saying, I'm still here.
Whether you believe they're truly signs or simply beautiful reminders that appear when we need them, the meaning can be incredibly personal.
Our Pick
$45.00
It might feel right for: someone who has been finding feathers since their loss, or when you aren't quite sure which memorial symbol to choose.
Forget-Me-Nots and Birth Flowers: Remembrance in Bloom
Sometimes the name really does say it all.
Forget-me-nots have long been associated with remembrance, lasting love, and faithfulness, making them a natural choice when honoring someone you don't want the world to forget.
Birth flowers can make a memorial gift feel even more personal. You might choose the flower for the month someone was born, the month they passed, or another month that holds meaning to you.
It's a subtle connection, but sometimes that's exactly what makes it special.
Our Pick
$45.00
It might feel right for: remembering a mom, grandmother, sister, friend, or baby. A birth flower can also be a beautiful way to remember a due date after pregnancy or infant loss.
You can also browse our month-by-month birth flowers on our memorial gifts page.
Paw Prints and Pet Angels: Because They're Family, Too
Anyone who has loved a pet knows this one doesn't need much explaining.
Losing a dog or cat means losing a member of your family — the little shadow that followed you from room to room, the face waiting at the door, the warm spot beside you that suddenly feels much too empty.
Paw prints have become a simple way of representing the mark those animals leave on our lives. Pet angels carry a similar meaning, especially for people who find comfort in imagining their pet still somewhere close.
This one is especially personal for us. We created our pet memorial pieces after experiencing that loss ourselves and wanting something that actually felt meaningful.
Our Pick
Paw Print for Charity Ornament
$50.00
We donate 30% of proceeds from this design to HOME Rescue, a small volunteer-based animal rescue.
It might feel right for: remembering your own dog or cat, or sending a little love to a friend who's missing theirs.
We also make the Forever Loved Cat Angel Ornament for Charity — $50 and the Forever In My Heart Dog Angel Ornament — $45, with several colors available.
How Do You Choose a Memorial Ornament?
There's really no wrong answer.
The best memorial ornament isn't necessarily the one with the "correct" symbolism. It's the one that makes you think, That's them.
A few things can help when you're trying to choose:
- Start with the person, not the symbol. Did they love birds? Grow flowers? Spend summers near the water? Always point out butterflies? A symbol tied to an actual memory will usually mean more than one chosen simply for its traditional meaning.
- Think about where it will live. Mother’s Angels® ornaments have a flat base as well as a hanging string, so they don't have to be packed away with the Christmas decorations. They can sit on a windowsill, desk, shelf, or mantel all year long. When they're near sunlight, the translucent colors really come alive.
- Make it a little more personal. Many of our designs can be engraved with a name, date, or short message. Sometimes that tiny detail is what turns a beautiful ornament into their ornament.
Frequently Asked Questions About Memorial Ornaments
What does a cardinal ornament mean?
A cardinal is commonly associated with loved ones who have passed away. Many people know the saying, "When cardinals appear, angels are near," and seeing a cardinal after a loss can feel like a reminder that someone you love is still close.
Because of that connection, cardinal ornaments are often given as memorial gifts after the loss of a parent, grandparent, spouse, or other loved one.
What's a good memorial gift for someone who lost their mom?
The most meaningful memorial gift is usually something that reminds them of her.
If she loved watching birds, a cardinal or hummingbird may feel right. If she loved gardening, her birth flower or a butterfly might be more personal.
And unlike fresh flowers, a keepsake can remain with them long after those first difficult weeks have passed.
Do memorial ornaments have to be Christmas ornaments?
Not at all.
Every Mother’s Angels® ornament has a flat base, so it can stand on a shelf, desk, mantel, or windowsill throughout the year. Each one also comes with a hanging string, so it can be added to a Christmas tree when the holidays arrive.
We love the idea that something created in memory of a person doesn't have to spend eleven months of the year packed away in a box.
Where are Forged Flare® ornaments made?
Our ornaments are handcrafted in McKinney, Texas.
We're Jen and Chris, the husband-and-wife team behind Forged Flare®, and every Mother’s Angels® ornament is designed by us and handcrafted by our small team. They're made in layers of wood, with colorful details inspired by stained glass.
How do memorial ornaments ship?
Most in-stock designs ship in 1 business day using USPS Ground Advantage, and Priority Mail is available at checkout if you need it sooner. Personalized pieces take a little longer, and as the holidays get busy, processing can stretch to about 3 business days.
You can have your ornament sent to you, or ship it directly to the person you're thinking of.
Find the One That Feels Like Them
Every person — and every pet — leaves behind a different story.
Maybe yours involves cardinals at the bird feeder. Butterflies in the garden. A hummingbird outside the kitchen window. A favorite flower. Or a paw print that will always have a place on your heart.
That's the part that matters most.
You can browse all of our Memorial Gifts, or visit our memorial gifts guide to look through birds, butterflies, birth flowers, pet memorials, and other designs.
And if you're stuck between a few and aren't sure which one feels right, you're always welcome to reach out. You'll be talking to us — Jen and Chris — not a giant customer service department.
Thank you for trusting us with something that means so much.
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