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The Witch as Hare or the Witch's Hare:
Legends & Beliefs in Nordic Traditions
Norse mythology, folklore, and traditions have a connection to pagan practices and throughout history pagans have been viewed as witches. There are three different traditions involving witches and hares in the Nordic traditions, the first is from Denmark, Southwest Sweden, and Southern Norway. It is believed that the witch can transform herself into a hare, a shape that will perform many mischievous acts (Wall, 1993).
The second belief is associated with all Nordic countries with the exclusion of Denmark, witches are capable of creating a "supernatural creature" whose purpose is to steal dairy such as milk. Some Nordic countries say that this creature resembles a hare and the most common name is mjölkhare which translates to milkhare. During the creation of such creature it is believed that the witch will be selling herself to the Devil along with creating a satanic pact. In Nordica areas such as northern Sweden and Finland, the mjölkhare is believed to be made with the blood of the witch to give it life. The final tradition involving witches is that of a supernatural hare, the trollhare. The trollhare is said to be seen in the woods where it will annoy and fool men who are out in the woods shooting. Unlike the other hares, the trollhare is said to have no specific owner, and the owner can be man, woman, a female wood spirit or even the Devil; it is also believed the the trollhare might even be the Devil himself (Wall, 1993).
At times it is believed that the witch will behave as the mjölkhare and steal milk, other times she will behave as the trollhare as she will entice the hounds to follow her or she will appear when men are out shooting. The trollhare tradition is in fact a male tradition as they are the ones who hunt, shoot, and poach, they would be the ones to encounter the trollhare (Wall, 1993).
The witch's hare is a popular legend and tradition among the Nordic men and when they gather they share their stories about their experiences or will pass on the stories they have heard to the younger generations.
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