During famine, the pelican would wound itself, striking its breast with the beak to feed its young pelicans with blood to prevent starvation or to revive them, but in turn lost its own life.
One can easily see why the early Christians adapted it to symbolize our Lord, Jesus Christ. The pelican symbolizes Jesus our Redeemer who gave His life for our redemption and the atonement He made through His passion and death. We were dead to sin and have found new life through the Blood of Christ. Moreover, Jesus continues to feed us with His body and blood in the holy Eucharist.
Allusion is made to this belief in Hamlet:
To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms
And, like the kind, life-rendering pelican,
Repast them with my blood.
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Size guide
| A | B | C | D | |
| One size (inches) | 17 ¼-18 ½ | 8 ⅝ | 3 | 8 ⅛ |