Series Builders | Traditions

The dove is the iconic biblical and cultural symbol for peace and hope. In the Bible, doves first appear after the flood, when Noah releases a dove once a week to search for land. When the dove returns with an olive branch, it brings with it peace, forgiveness, and the anticipation of new life. (Genesis 8:6-12) Later, at Jesus' Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, resting on Jesus in an expression of the presence of the Holy Spirit, bringing peace and comfort. (Matthew 3:13-17)

Culturally, the dove is a universally known symbol for peace. After World War II, Pablo Picasso, drawing on the Noah story, designed a dove lithograph for the International Peace Congress.