Thursday, April 9, 2020

Not forgetting hares at Easter

Sitting Hare - by Charles Tunnicliffe (1901 - 1979)
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The story of Saint Melangell and her little hare

 Story of Saint Melangell and her little hare. She was the daughter of King Cufwlch and Ethni of Ireland and she fled to Wales to escape a forced marriage. She settled in Pennant at the head of a valley, and whilst one day sitting in a clearing she heard the sound of a hunt, dogs and horses galloping up the valley. This was Prince Brochwael of Powys hunting hares. As she sat a hare came into the clearing and Melangell hid it in the sleeve of her dress to protect it. When it peeped out the dogs fled, and so the Prince gave her the land on which he hunted, and she lived at Pennant for another 37 years and no animal was killed in her sanctuary. Hares were known as wyn bach Melangell or Melangell's little lambs, and to kill a hare was an act of sacrilege.



This story is taken from "The Book of Welsh Saints" T.D. Breverton, and there are other versions of the tale. But at Llanfihangel-y-Pennant near Llangynog is probably the site of her foundation, because on the church's medieval rood-screen are little hares.




Of course it must not be forgotten that the term Easter comes from the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre as Bede states here;

The English Months. In olden time the English people – for it did not seem fitting to me that I should speak of other nations' observance of the year and yet be silent about my own nation's – calculated their months according to the course of the moon. Hence after the manner of the Hebrews and the Greeks, [the months] take their name from the moon, for the moon is called mona and the month monath. The first month, which the Latins call January, is Giuli; February is called Sol-monath; March Hreth-monath; April, Eostur-monath; May Thrimilchi... Eostur-monath has a name which is now translated Paschal month, and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. (Eostur-monath, qui nunc paschalis mensis interpretatur, quondam a dea illorum quae Eostre vocabatur et cui in illo festa celebrabant nomen habuit.) Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance.

Resting Hare by Andrew Hartington




Paintings courtesy of Brigit Strawbridge Howard

8 comments:

  1. Thelma, you have made my day! Hares are my most favourite animal. When I was a child they were very plentiful in Lincolnshire and my father and I used to watch them on our walks. I have several bronze ones and various books on hares. We used to get them occasionally on the farm but I haven't seen one since I moved here, so thank you

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    1. I know they are that is why I went and looked for them;)

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  2. That's fascinating. I love hares too and have pictures and ornaments all over the house. There's something quite magical about them.

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    1. They come with a lot of folklore and myth, and their enchanting boxing matches at this time of the year is magical.

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  3. I really think I should try a hare photography art thingy....

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    1. You are very good with the camera Tabor. And live in a fabulous place for scenic photos.

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  4. Just remembered that Boadicea let a hare free before the battle with the Romans....

    "During the revolt of Boudicca, the Iceni performed sacrifices to the Celtic Goddess of revenge, Andraste. Dio Cassius describes a scene in which Boudicca released a hare from her gown - "Let us, therefore, go against (the Romans), trusting boldly to good fortune. Let us show them that they are hares and foxes trying to rule over dogs and wolves." When she (Boudica) had finished speaking, she employed a species of divination, letting a hare escape from the fold of her dress; and since it ran on what they considered the auspicious side, the whole multitude shouted with pleasure, and Boudica, raising her hand toward heaven, said: "I thank you, Andraste, and call upon you as woman speaking to woman ... I beg you for victory and preservation of liberty."

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