"Every time a bell rings, an angel grows hers wings"

[MadamePeacock]

I was shopping in The Range earlier today and had a little look at the Christmas decorations. There was a tree decoration that said the above phrase.

AIBU to have found this upsetting?

To begin with, why are angels being classed as just female? And secondly, I found it really upsetting as I have two angels waiting in Heaven.

It's a misquote from 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.

Sorry for your loss.

I'd more annoyed that The Range don't proofread their Christmas decorations.

It's from a film, ' It's a Wonderful Life' with Jimmy Stewart. I don't think it's supposed to be a her though.

There's a Marylin Manson lyric a bit like that.

Only it's a worm, not an angel.

It's a phrase that I think was popularised, or possibly came, from the film 'Its a wonderful life'

In the context of the film I found it heart warming. In the film one of the main themes is a male angel earning his wings.

that you've found it saddening. Sometimes little things catch us off guard and the surprise of it makes it just that bit worse.

Think you're being a little sensitive about it.

As mentioned, it's from It's a Wonderful Life. A popular Christmas movie.

Christmas decorations in October are very upsetting, though.

It's just a (mis)quote. Most people don't believe in angels, so I don't suppose any offense was meant.

I think you are being sensitive about it, but it's understandable given your losses. I once cried in Thornton because I didn't have to buy my grandad special toffee for Christmas after he died.

I don't think the range have done anything wrong (except misquote the film).

Sorry you feel sad. Christmas must he hard

I'm sorry for your losses.

This is a very old saying that was made popular by the film "It's A Wonderful Life".

I don't think there's any sexism or offence meant. Angels are going to be everywhere at Christmas. Angels can be male or female, regardless of what a bauble says. I hope you find peace and comfort. x

I think they probably purposely misquoted the film so they don't get done for copyright...

By the way I make hand made things and I have completely sold out of my xmas range at the beginning of September! surprising how many people want xmas stuff really early on in the year.

Before I started making things it used to really get on my nerves seeing xmas things in the shops so early!

Seeing as I thought this thread would be about the loss of a child/children YADNBU.

For me it has connotations of loss and grief, possibly not the intention.

Some people like having things like that to remind them of deceased loved ones at Christmas, lots would find it comforting rather than upsetting. I'm considering getting something similar for a friend who was widowed earlier this year.

I think you're being a bit sensitive but that's okay. That's certainly allowed

The original quote refers to a male angel called Clarence.

As previous posters have said, it's a (mis)quote from It's a Wonderful Life.

I have every sympathy for your losses so (assuming you haven't seen the film) it might make you feel better to know that an angel "getting it's wings" doesn't mean that someone has died. It means that an angel has "earned" it's wings. So the quote is not meant to invoke any sad feelings but happy ones. As I said though, so sorry for your losses.

Sorry for your loss Madame Peacock.

As others have said, it's a misquote. In a wonderful life the angel is male.

So sad but angels are not people

It's actually a very uplifting film OP. At the end of the film when the little girl says 'every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings' it's a very joyful moment.

Thank you everyone. I'm 8 weeks pregnant so very hormonal

Yabu. It's from a story, about a male angel, and angels are fictitious anyway.