In Norway crows are thought to go down to hell once every year, when they must appear before Satan and give him a tribute of feathers. The supreme war-goddess of the Gaels of Scotland, was Morrigu, the Red Woman or war goddess, who figures in the adventures of Cuchulain, and whose favorite disguise was to […]
Tag: Norway
Bird stories, Black Woodpecker, (Dryocopus martius)
This tale is told by the peasantry in Norway. In those days when our Lord and S. Peter wandered upon earth, they came to an old wifes house, who sat baking. Her name was Gertrude, and she had a red mutch on her head. They had walked a long way, and were both hungry, and […]
Bird stories, Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)
Gabriel hounds in Scandinavia are the bean geese calling to one another in their nocturnal journeys having a singular resemblance to the yelping of beagles. The story is that Gabriel, obliged to follow this airborne pack, is said to be human-headed, high in the dark air, as a punishment for having once hunted on Sunday. […]