| Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format |
| Celtic Radio Community > Brittany > Cat's Gold |
| Posted by: WizardofOwls 04-Sep-2004, 05:58 PM |
| 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. |
| Posted by: celtica 04-Sep-2004, 06:21 PM |
| It's really a very beautiful legend, Wizard ! I didn't know it. Thank you for sharing ! |