When did the idea of Rainbow Bridge start?

[FionaM12]

Having kept animals on and off for over 50 years, I had never heard of "Rainbow Bridge" until about five years ago.

It's an idea which seems slightly ludicrous to me, but then I don't believe in Heaven either. I find he sentimentality of the term RB cloying. It sounds like a childrens' tv programme!

It rather reminds me of people telling their kids the family dog "went to live on a farm", only for adults. Our family pets were adored, but on their demise we were told the truth which taught us a lot about the reality of death, and was fine. Surely the end of suffering is comfort enough?

Does anyone know how and when the RB idea came about? And am I alone in finding it rather uncomfortable?

 

[Lolo]

You're not alone, although I keep schtum generally as whatever people need to help them grieve they can have really. We've always been told the truth about ponies/ pets dying, and I think now my sister and I are older it has made us more adept at dealing with grief.

We do talk about our horses/ pets/ loved ones, 'up there somewhere' looking down on us together and discussing us and laughing. I don't know why, it just makes us feel better about it. I think death is final, but memories keep the person/ animal with us, and it's easier to remember when you can pretend that they're just another 'level' away, rather than gone forever.

 

[Dogrose]

It is a bit sappy for my tastes. It is purely an internet creation (I think there is an original site somewhere) but is based on the Norse/Heathen idea of the rainbow bridge Bifrost which connects this world to the next that you cross when you die.
Often people get confused by the idea - animals are supposed to wait for their humans at the bridge then they cross together when the human passes, people often say that an animal has crossed the bridge to mean it has died, but they aren't supposed to cross until you die too!

 

[sandi_84]

I don't know when it started but I've always found it rather a nice thought/way of putting it instead of dead or died, went over the rainbow bridge.
Yes it's a bit twinkly stars, unicorns and fluffy bunnies but if it makes a bereaved owner feel better then why not

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I think it stems from an American poem but I could be wrong. I don't believe in it either but kinda wish I did. If it helps people a wee bit at a difficult time then where's the harm.

 

[FionaM12]

Don't get me wrong, I'd never take whatever comforts a grieving person away from them. I do feel a slight embarrassment when adults come out with it though, like a grown-up's just said they believe in Father Christmas!

It being an internet creation sounds likely, seeing as it seems to be a very recent new idea.

 

[wyrdsister]

It always takes me a second to remember what people are talking about. But as dogrose said, the original rainbow bridge is the Bifrost in Norse mythology between Midgard and Asgard, which is where my mind goes first!

 

[FionaM12]

Thinking about it, maybe I just have a conviction that facing the truth is healthier...

Hmmmm..

Can you tell I'm bored at work?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Thinking about it, maybe I just have a conviction that facing the truth is healthier...

maybe, but it doesn't help my existential crisis

 

[doriangrey]

Having kept animals on and off for over 50 years, I had never heard of "Rainbow Bridge" until about five years ago.

It's an idea which seems slightly ludicrous to me, but then I don't believe in Heaven either. I find he sentimentality of the term RB cloying. It sounds like a childrens' tv programme!

It rather reminds me of people telling their kids the family dog "went to live on a farm", only for adults. Our family pets were adored, but on their demise we were told the truth which taught us a lot about the reality of death, and was fine. Surely the end of suffering is comfort enough?

Does anyone know how and when the RB idea came about? And am I alone in finding it rather uncomfortable?

You .. you mean that Shep never went to that farm in the country after he ran in front of that car? I have no opinion either way but whatever helps people deal with their grief. Some of my chickens, however, met Mr Fox and some of my ducks will meet pancakes and hoisin sauce. My little lad (8) knows this but he also knows that they are free range and looked after until they are culled for the table. I am sentimental about broodies and good laying hens/roos and will let them live out a retirement and if rainbow bridge beckons, they deserve it ... even if I don't!

 

[Parachute]

I quite like the whole rainbow bridge creation - seems to make death a lot less scary - for me anyway

 

[Chopandchips]

Not a fan myself, bit schmaltzy. As someone said earlier if it helps someone who is upset then why not

xx

 

[slumdog]

I've always been quite open and honest with my kids when it comes to things dying, I have reptiles and I breed rats and mice as feeders so its not something we are particularly 'fluffy' about in our house. However, god forbid anything ever happened to the horses (or dogs) I quite like the idea of rainbow bridge, its just a nice thought- to think of them as just gone forever is so final. But then on the same note don't think of all my rats and mice going to rainbow bridge! Which I suppose is contradicting myself really.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

My horse will barely cross a small bridge on a hack without a lot of snorty tomfoolery. I've tried to imagine him going over the rainbow bridge...y'know, as you do.....and I have to apologise in advance as I know he's going to plant, freeze, run backwards, try and kick the horse behind him and generally hold up the queue. Maybe I should start de-sensitising him first? Multi coloured tarps in the school for him to walk over? On a ramp? I'm worried now, would he be better led or ridden? And what if there's angels with big flappy wings? He practically faints if he sees a pheasant, one look at the angel Gabriel and he'll just die...oh...ah...hang on....

 

[canteron]

Don't get me wrong, I'd never take whatever comforts a grieving person away from them. I do feel a slight embarrassment when adults come out with it though, like a grown-up's just said they believe in Father Christmas!

It being an internet creation sounds likely, seeing as it seems to be a very recent new idea.

Vile topic, sorry but why discuss it you sound like a pretty tough person. Maybe you haven't lost anyone/anything you have loved and still imagined/hoped beyond hope they are still there .... One day maybe you will get it, it comes to all of us but the most insensitive.

 

[OldNag]

Gala... just spluttered my hot milk (I know how to live) .... love it.

 

[FionaM12]

I'm not sure "gone forever" is necessarily the truth either. We can't be certain there's nothing after life ends. We can't know one way or other, until it happens to ourselves.

I still regularly dream about my horse who died in about 1982, and my dog who died in 1972. So it doesn't feel they've gone in a way. It's our love and memories which keep those dear to us alive.

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Having just lost my pony, rainbow bridge wouldn't help me one bit lol but if it brings comfort to others, so be it. I'd probably tell children he'd gone to a nice, lush field to live to save them the upset, but that's just me. I had pets die from being quite young and found several myself so am matter of fact about it. That's how I'd want my kids tobe, but I would always use a ddifferent explanation (such as field/farm etc.) for other peoples children as I don't know how their parents would want them to be told about a deceased animal, and it's not my place to ruin that.

 

[ladyt25]

I quite like the idea. I am not religious but I do like the idea of spirits etc and I have experienced some 'paranormal' incidents before myself so I like to keep an open mind about stuff like that. I also think there are somany unexplained events that happen and things that people know when there's now way they could -ie children stating to their parents how they 'used to live in that house' or describing a persin 'visiting' them in their room at night and the person they describe is a grandparent they've never seen.

Things like that I find intriguing. Therefore I find the rainbow bridge poem something that feeds the imagination and, if this then helps people deal with the grief of losing an animal then all well and good.

I suppose each to their own. It's like people reading pslams from the bible or thanking God for this that or the other. That means nothing to me at all but some people believe in that so fair enough.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Having kept animals on and off for over 50 years, I had never heard of "Rainbow Bridge" until about five years ago.

It's an idea which seems slightly ludicrous to me, but then I don't believe in Heaven either. I find he sentimentality of the term RB cloying. It sounds like a childrens' tv programme!


Does anyone know how and when the RB idea came about? And am I alone in finding it rather uncomfortable?

Well I have been brought up with animals all my life. I never heard of RB till joining H&H. I don't think its ludicrous, embarrassment or anything.

If adults use the Term RB I think its nice. You label it how you want, some poopoo tarot cards. or wicker.

You believe what you want to in my book religious or a fantasies place where animals go.

Life is too short to worry about whether its weird an adult thinks of this place or not.

If the individual gets comfort with thinking this I say go for it.

 

[FionaM12]

Vile topic, sorry but why discuss it you sound like a pretty tough person. Maybe you haven't lost anyone/anything you have loved and still imagined/hoped beyond hope they are still there .... One day maybe you will get it, it comes to all of us but the most insensitive.

What a strange and rather unkind reaction.

You have no idea what losses and grief I've suffered, and I can't imagine why discussing "Rainbow Bridge" makes you so angry.

I don't know whether I'm "tough", but I know I'm sensitve and that I don't jump to conclusions about others.

 

[undergroundoli]

Vile topic, sorry but why discuss it you sound like a pretty tough person. Maybe you haven't lost anyone/anything you have loved and still imagined/hoped beyond hope they are still there .... One day maybe you will get it, it comes to all of us but the most insensitive.

I think that, as long as everyone respects that others find solace in different places, its good to discus ways of handling bereavement and to understand we don’t all feel the same. My first pet was a hamster but hers was the first death I’d known. When she died I felt deeply patronised to be told she was in hamster heaven, and I was six at the time.
Its good to be aware that some people don’t find Rainbow Bridge comforting, I don’t think any of us would want to say to someone who’d lost a horse something they’d find cringe worthy. I much prefer the idea of my great grandparents nurturing trees, but understand that talking about what fantastic compost grandmothers make is often not sensitive. Equally I’d like people to think about me before going on about heaven.

 

[FionaM12]

Having just lost my pony, rainbow bridge wouldn't help me one bit lol but if it brings comfort to others, so be it. I'd probably tell children he'd gone to a nice, lush field to live to save them the upset, but that's just me. I had pets die from being quite young and found several myself so am matter of fact about it. That's how I'd want my kids tobe, but I would always use a ddifferent explanation (such as field/farm etc.) for other peoples children as I don't know how their parents would want them to be told about a deceased animal, and it's not my place to ruin that.

I'm very sorry for your loss, this is a poinient topic for you.

In my experience children often cope better with death than adults. Especially if they're told the truth. I think we don't give them credit when we deceive them (however well intended).

 

[Floxie]

I first saw it on the American pet forums, then watched it seep over here. It's a bit too sugar-coated for me, I'm afraid, but whatever brings you comfort. Just don't tell me my pets are playing over there

 

[Floxie]

Just don't tell me my pets are playing over there

Over the rainbow bridge, that is, not the American pet forums. If they can use a keyboard they can troll all they like, they've earned it.

 

[slumdog]

My granny isnt at rainbow bridge, she is still in a cupboard in the funeral directors, she's also probably pretty cross about still being in a cupboard but my dads family don't talk so we didn't know what to do with her :-/

 

[Floxie]

Awkward, families always complicate things. We threw my granny off a hill at her request. It didn't go down particularly well with the family picnicking beneath the brow, but she'd probably have laughed her arse off...

 

[Ladyinred]

Many (!) years ago I was sent to tidy a stock cupboard at school as a punishment. Must have been late sixties. I found an extremely old grammar book dating from the thirties and settled down in a corner to read.. as you do. In it there was an article about the American Indians belief of a heaven for horses, they called it Trapalanda and from what I can remember it was a similar idea to RB. I have spent years trying to find out the basis for this story that is, apparently, a powerful legend passed down verbally through various tribes.

I did find some references to it in (sadly) Swedish, but it might as well have been hieroglyphs for all the sense it made to me!

I do recall that the description of Trapalanda was never as wishy-washy and sickly as RB and, also, it was for horses and very special people only.

I have forever kicked my self for not pinching that old book.. it was only thrown out.

 

[mandwhy]

I always thought it came from the poem which is sickly sweet and care bears and loveliness but not my cup of tea.

Now people say it is from Norse mythology I think it has more credibility in my mind, you learn something new everyday (especially when you're in the cupboard it seems!)

I thought when adults refer to it that it is just a euphemism like 'passed away' 'kicked the bucket' etc but who knows

Eta my OH has never heard of this but says in Thor the bridge that is protected by the gatekeeper is the rainbow bridge.

 

[orionstar]

It's Valhalla. Christian teaching tells us animals cant go to heaven, however in Norse mythology a person's animals can go over the Rainbow Bridge to Valhalla, so it's not a new thing at all. In Norse mythology horses roam freely over the grass and mountains and dogs play and hunt together happy and free, then when the owner joins them, they live a happy life together. There is also elements of this in earlier non Christian teachings. I'd like to think If any of my animals went anywhere it was here!