Freedom, Pushkin and bright traditions

Beautiful folk tradition: releasing birds at the Annunciation. Where did this custom come from, and where is the gospel of the archangel to the future Mother of God?

It is a symbol of freedom. The Annunciation is the day of the beginning of our salvation, the liberation from the power of sin. And we are called to freedom (cf. Gal. 5, 13), and Christ, who comes to earth today, brought us freedom — true, real freedom. The liberation of a bird flying out of a cage symbolizes the soul of man, liberated by God from slavery to sin - for striving into heaven, for his Liberator. And such a tradition is a clear illustration of this image. Visual, joyful, memorable for life.

This custom entered the circle of life of our people, our sayings, our literature. How did our dear Alexander Sergeevich write there?

In a foreign land I observe piously
Native custom of antiquity:
I release a bird
With a bright holiday of spring.

I became available to consolation;
Why do I grumble at God,
When at least one creature
I could give freedom!

Centuries pass, times change, but our culture is basically, at least in general terms, the same as in the "sun of Russian poetry." On the “bright holiday of spring”, both in the parishes of our Church and in families, the Russian folk traditions of celebrating Orthodox holidays are revived. For many children, the custom of releasing birds for the Annunciation turns out to be their “native custom” for many children.

 Source: https://pravoslavie.ru/119824.html