Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )










Reply to this topicStart new topicStart Poll

> Cat's Gold, A Breton Legend
WizardofOwls 
Posted: 04-Sep-2004, 05:58 PM
Quote Post

Member is Offline





Wanderer and Vagabond
********

Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 5,142
Joined: 12-Mar-2004
ZodiacVine

Realm: Wytheville, Virginia

male





Here is another Breton legend. I found it at:

http://www.bretagne-celtic.com/an/accueil_an.htm

I hope you enjoy it!

CAT'S GOLD

The bright silver ribbons that shine at the surface of the water in the bay, these ribbons otherwise known as "Virgin's pathways", used to be the long trains on the coats of the Ladies of the Sea ...

In the land of Saint-Malo there used to be more fairies in the sea and on the shores than there were shepherdesses in the moorland.

One moonlit night a group of fairies were dancing round in a ring. Now there were twelve young men in a festive mood who, when they felt warm because they were drunk, decided to go and invite the beautiful fairies of the shore to dance a quadrille.

But while they were dancing the fairies noticed that the boys were short of breath and that their legs were like cotton wool, so they flew into a rage. By waving their magic wand they turned the boors into six big black cats and six white female cats.

When they realised the poor cats were mewing with distress, the fairies' natural kindness softened their hearts, and they promised the braggarts they would restore them their original shape provided that they weave a gold coat and a silver dress for each fairy out of the mica of the shore only.

The task would not have been long if the fairies had not added that they could weave only during the twelve strokes of midnight.

The six toms and the six she-cats started working straight away. When the fairies were dressed they touched the cats with their wand and turned them back into human beings. The story does not say if centuries had gone by.

One thing is for sure, it is extremely rare to see real cats wandering on the sea sand. Yet in Saint-Malo "cat's silver" is the name for grey mica. When the mica shines with a golden glint it becomes "cat's gold", the material with which the ceremonial coat of the Ladies of the Sea was woven.



--------------------
Slàn agus beannachd,
Allen R. Alderman

'S i Alba tìr mo chridhe. 'S i Gàidhlig cànan m' anama.
Scotland is the land of my heart. Gaelic is the language of my soul.
PMEmail PosterMy Photo Album               
Top
celtica 
Posted: 04-Sep-2004, 06:21 PM
Quote Post

Member is Offline



Lady of the mists
Group Icon

Group: Brittany
Posts: 466
Joined: 22-Jan-2004
ZodiacOak

Realm: Brest - Brittany

female





It's really a very beautiful legend, Wizard ! I didn't know it. Thank you for sharing ! smile.gif


--------------------
Que restera-t-il de notre sang mêlé au sel, sans trace dans les mémoires ? Une ultime navigation, trompeuse. Et des souvenirs, illuminés d'embruns. Mais condamnés au silence de la mer... Loïc Finaz.
user posted image
PMEmail Poster               
Top
0 User(s) are reading this topic (0 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

Reply to this topic Quick ReplyStart new topicStart Poll


 








© Celtic Radio Network
Celtic Radio is a TorontoCast radio station that is based in Canada.
TorontoCast provides music license coverage through SOCAN.
All rights and trademarks reserved. Read our Privacy Policy.








[Home] [Top]