MEADOW SWEET GROVE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog-Recipes & Extras
  • Blog-Folklore & Magic
  • Payment, Shipping & Policies
  • Sold Archives & Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • Midnight at the Grove
  • ETSY Shop
  • Finding Service
  • Rhian's Renderings
Picture
    
~ Blog - Folklore & Magic ~
Picture

Moon Rabbits do double duty as Easter Bunnies!

4/14/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
Moon Rabbits Oblong Dish, Made in Japan
Picture
Moon Rabbits Egg-shaped Dish, Origin Unknown

My interest in Asian folklore is relatively new and, as such limited, but I understand that these little fellows are moon rabbits, popular in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and other folklore. 

The oblong dish to the left is made in Japan and depicts moon rabbits with the full moon above them in the dark blue night sky.  They are surrounded by eggs.  I had forgotten the imagery on it when I stumbled across the little pastel-coloured dish to the right.  It mystified me a bit at first, because it is egg-shaped and the bunnies are busily cavorting among pretty pink eggs and a flower.  This led me at first to think it was an Easter dish - until I flipped it over and saw an Asian back stamp!  But of course, when you compare the two, there is simply no mistake - I believe the pink flower in this case serves as a pretty substitute for the moon.  

The white moon rabbit lives on the moon and stirs an elixir of immortality.  Sometimes, when you look at the full moon, you can see his image.  I'm not sure if the chocolate eggs I intend to place in these dishes will help in the quest for immortality ... but they certainly will satisfy the evening sweet tooth!

 Bibliography:  Wikipedia, Moon Rabbit, 2019                                  
                                                                                                                                                              Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2019
2 Comments

Come on ... it will be a lark!

6/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

~ It will be a lark! ~ On a lark ~ Just for a lark ~ Larking about ~ Go on a lark ~
These are English expressions used to describe something done for a bit of carefree fun; usually on a sudden impulse or whim.  It can be silly and gay.  It can be mischievous - but never malicious.

"Come on, join me in the three-legged race ... it will be a lark!"

Marie decided to buy a new hat on a lark.

The children turned their desks around backwards, just for a lark, before the teacher came into the room. 

"Stop larking about and turn those desks back 'round front", she laughed.

Sigh, I definitely need to go on a lark right now!!
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018
0 Comments

Good Luck Kitchen Roosters

4/14/2018

2 Comments

 
Rooster painting
Rooster trivet

Sugar bowl rooster Provence
Do you ever wonder why so many kitchen items feature roosters?  Everything from canisters to casserole dishes, potholders to pictures, and spoon holders to salt and pepper shakers.

A rooster in the kitchen brings you good luck - plain and simple!  This belief is  pretty universal around the world.  Many countries relate fables wherein the rooster features prominently as the bringer of good luck to some situation or other.  So common superstition says you would be well-advised to add one to your kitchen paraphernalia - if you haven't brought got one already!  Check your kitchen - there is probably one lurking somewhere, as people often gift kitchen roosters in the form of towels, utensils, dishes or other kitchen do-dads ... they might even be worked into your tiles.  I actually relish the day when the "sterile" stainless steel kitchen trend comes to an end ... and colour and variety returns.  Then not only the humble kitchen rooster - but all those lovely  French Provencal blues, yellows, reds and whites - can make a well-deserved comeback in kitchen tiles, counter tops and floors.

But in the meantime,  why not incorporate a rooster into your kitchen decor to bring good luck and good fortune into your home.  You'll get all of the benefit ... without any of the early morning cock-a-doodle-doing! 

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018 / edited 2020
2 Comments

Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits! - A spell for good luck

3/29/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture china rabbits, elves,deer
Rabbbits, elves and furry friends, Meadow Sweet Grove collection
Picture
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, Charles M. Schulz, 1974

Apparently, there is a folklore tradition, in Britain and North America, wherein it is very good luck to say "white rabbits" or "rabbits" or "rabbits, rabbits, rabbits!", or any combination of these words three times, on the 1st day of any month.  Three's the charm as they say and is always an important component to the success of any spell.  They must be your first spoken words upon waking on the 1st day of the month.  I've never heard of it before but am going to give it a go this Sunday!

How auspicious is it that the first day of our next month this year (April), is not only April's Fool's Day but also Easter Sunday.  Can't get much luckier than that!

There are so many diverse symbolic meanings attached to the rabbit - and often contradictory ones.   But if you think of both the prolific nature of bunnies and also the common "trickster" aspect of the rabbit - the above charm makes a lot of sense.  It both invites bounty and good fortune for the month ... while at the same time stymieing the possibility of silly tricks those cunning characters might play!
Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits!
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018
2 Comments

The Fox and The Crow

7/21/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
PictureIllustration by Jean de la Fontaine
​I think most people are familiar with Aesop's Fable about The Fox and the Crow.

​In this story, the Crow has found a wonderful round of cheese and is sitting in a tree, when along comes a sweet-talking fox.  He wants the cheese for himself, but how to get it?  He convinces the Crow that she has a beautiful voice and would love to hear her sing.  She is flattered, opens her mouth to sing and, sadly for her, the cheese drops to the ground.  Now, when you think about this fable, it becomes apparent that casting is important.  Crows are really, really intelligent.  Only a sly fox would have been right for this role ... for who else, in the entire animal kingdom would have the ability to out-smart a crow?

                                            Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 
(gif courtesy of AnimatedImages.org)

0 Comments

Crow Trinket - Treasure or Trash? #crow #giftfromcrow

6/12/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture of crow
Crow Man
The relationship with Crow Man is growing.  He knows when I get home in the morning and when I am likely to put out food.  If I'm gardening, he's sure to show up ... and let me know he's there.  Sometimes he'll simply wait in the "feeding" spot.  The sound of the door opening no longer sets him to flight and I can get quite close to him.  He won't take the food out of my hand yet, but perhaps that is a good thing.  He cocks his head to look at me and sometimes responds when I talk to him with a funny "ma-roop, ma-roop" sound.   Sometimes he sounds just like a cat and it makes me wonder how much time he's spending with Finn! 
Picture of gift from crowCrow Trinket - Treasure or Trash?
There is rumour that a crow will sometimes strike up such a relationship with a person that they will show their gratitude for food by bringing some prezzies.  I am hopeful that soon the shiny trinkets will begin to appear!  The only thing he has brought me so far is an old stick.  However, it is a very interesting stick, and looks like a small animal. My resident fairy, who is very observant, noticed that it has a teeny, tiny bit of red paint on it as well.  So maybe the gift-giving has begun!  
​

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ​​​​​​​

0 Comments

Spring Maidens and Easter Bunnies

4/14/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sarah's Angels (Easter)

​​Spring is in the air. Spring has sprung. A spring in his step. Spring fever. All these jubilant and energetic expressions of Spring express the same feeling ... the hope, delight and anticipation of new life. Perhaps Spring will bring new experiences, new love, new young ones, and of course, a rebirth of nature.
Picture
Vintage Easter Card

​How appropriate then that even now, bunnies are often shown as a young girl's companion in modern art depictions or decoratives.  Perhaps, in older times, the Spring Maiden, or Ostara, was accompanied by an Oster Hare, as the Easter Bunny is called in Germany.  There is some contention on this matter as to whether or not the Spring Goddesses of ancient days were connected with hares, eggs and other symbols of Spring at all ... or if that is a more modern connection recorded around the time the Grimm Brothers collected their fairy tales.  It matters little to us plebeians! In the eternal mind, the connection was made because it is the correct one.  Bunnies and girls both represent youth, vitality and beginnings ... in every way the very essence of Spring!  ​
Picture
Ostara (1884) by Johannes Gehrts
Picture
Sarah's Angels (Spring)
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019 / 2021
0 Comments

Making a Winter Solstice Tree - Merry Yule!

12/21/2016

1 Comment

 
PictureWinter Solstice Tree
Winter Solstice is such an incredible time.  The fairies in the Grove are abuzz with excitement!  One of their favourite activities is making a Winter Solstice Tree for all the hungry little woodland creatures - this is most enjoyed by the chickadees, blue jays, bush tits, juncos, woodpeckers and yes, even the squirrels.

How to make a Winter Solstice Tree
  • Spread some peanut butter on waxed paper, roll pine cones in peanut butter, then stand pine cone in a large bowl and pour bird seed overtop, coating nicely, wrap string around the pine cone for hanging.

  • Cut an orange in half and partially hollow it out, carve or punch three holes in the side near the top, insert string and tie at the top, fill with bird seeds.

  • Cut a hole in stale bread, bagels or crackers, tie a string, spread with congealed bacon fat, sprinkle with bird seeds (bacon fat helps the birds to put on their own fat for the winter; bread alone fills them up ... but leaves them vulnerable to the cold).
    ​
  • Make a popcorn string.

  • Hang all these goodies on a tree with lots of little branches for perching, ducking and hiding, spread a little bird seed on the ground.

​Watch and enjoy your little visitors from a quiet place!

​​Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2016 / edited 2019

1 Comment
    Picture
            ~ SHOP ~
    FREE SHIPPING WHEN YOUR ORDER TOTALS
                        $150 OR MORE!!
    (Offer available in Canada & USA only)

    CA$5.99
    CA$12.99
    CA$9.99
    CA$9.99
    Picture
    Let this blue fairy magically transport you to the Store!
    Picture
    Picture
    Or walk to the Store here!

    Meadow Sweet Grove

    Folklore & Magic Archives

    Categories

    All
    Aesop's Fables
    Animals
    Christmas / Yule
    Easter / Ostara
    Expressions & Idioms
    Fairies
    Fairy Tales
    Fantasy Creatures
    Garden
    Gods / Goddesses
    Halloween / Samhain
    Imbolg / 1st Spring
    Magic
    May Day / Beltane
    Mother Goose
    Poetry
    Spells
    Superstitions

    RSS Feed

Blog-Articles
Blog-Folklore & Magic
Sold Archives & Reviews
Rhian's Renderings
Midnight at the Grove
Finding Service
About
Contact
Picture

Shop

Payment, Shipping & Policies
PayPal Logo
Users of payment apps (eg Google Pay) can checkout on Etsy. See "CONTACT".
Disclaimer: Many of the items sold are vintage or pre-loved. Quality of vintage items vary with the manufacturing methods available at the time of production. They are not made to current standards of manufacturing ... and in my opinion, that is usually a good thing! They tend to be higher quality, last longer and include more attention to detail than today's products. However, safety standards do change over time, items do deteriorate with age, and it is up to the customer to decide how they will use each product.
All rights reserved. No part of this website, including but not limited to written articles, photographs, graphics, videos or animations, may be reproduced, in any form, written or digital, without the express and prior written permission of the author: V. Buchanan of Meadow Sweet Grove. Requests for said permission may be directed to: meadowsweetgrove@hotmail.com. (GIFs graciously provided by: animatedimages.org & R. Buchanan)
Follow the Grove at:
Proudly powered by Weebly
Copyright © Meadow Sweet Grove / V. Buchanan 2016 - 2022
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog-Recipes & Extras
  • Blog-Folklore & Magic
  • Payment, Shipping & Policies
  • Sold Archives & Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • Midnight at the Grove
  • ETSY Shop
  • Finding Service
  • Rhian's Renderings