It is said that, after creating the animals, the gods realized that someone was still needed to carry one person's thoughts into another person's heart.
With no clay or maize left, they took a small piece of jade, carved a tiny arrow and breathed upon it. The arrow came alive and became a hummingbird.
Ever since, its swift flight has crossed gardens, paths and great distances carrying the feelings we do not always know how to express.
In Playa del Carmen, a boy missed his father, who worked far away. One afternoon, he asked his grandmother how he could send him a hug without knowing when he would return.
“Keep it here,” she said, placing her hand over his heart. “When the hummingbird arrives, think of him.”
The boy closed his eyes. A tiny hummingbird hovered beside a flower for a few seconds before flying toward the sea.
That evening, his father called. He said that, without knowing why, he had suddenly needed to hear his son's voice.
A reminder of the people we love
We cannot claim that the bird carries real messages. Yet the story offers a beautiful way to reflect on the people we miss and the bonds that endure across distances.
That is why many people see a visit from a hummingbird as a special moment: a chance to think of someone they love, feel grateful and care for the wildlife around them.