Forward concerning
lucky animals in cultural perspectives
It is interesting to talk about lucky or holy animals in
various cultures. The Indian treated cobras as holy snakes and they would not
harm them, but snakes are delicacies amongst Vietnamese and Chinese! So, snake
wine is supposed to be good for curing rheumatism for Chinese and Vietnamese.
Many folks in South-east Asia think some albino animals as
holy animals or ‘keramat’ in Malay. In the past, many Chinese farmers would
refrain from killing snakes in their farms as they thought snakes are emanation
of local spirits known as a ‘datuk’ or rå in Swedish terms.
In fact, many people especially the Chinese believe that
animal of large size: tortoise, soft-shell tortoise, monitor lizards, pythons,
tigers, snakes, fish etc. are animals of intelligence. Once these animals are
caught, it is best to let them go or they shall seek their revenge later. This
is particularly true when a pregnant lady is around. If this taboo is not observed,
then the baby would receive some kind of handicaps similar to the animal being
harmed.
Below information is compiled by Mr. Bjerstedt and it is interesting
to find similarities with the SEA culture. -Liew
-Compiled by Mr. Bjerstedt
Title: The Lot Snake
Notetaker: Levi Johansson
Messenger: Torpare
Esaias Ödberg
Year: 1917
Parish/Town:
Grundsunda
The Lot Snake is an auspicious spirit. It is black in colour
and doesn't bite. There are probably those snakes on all farm lots.
It was said that a little girl sat alone inside the cottage
on the floor while drinking milk from a cup and eating bread. When the mother
looked through the window, she saw The Lot Snake also eating from the girl's
cup. She stroked the snake along the back and said “Eat bread too, long
kitten!” However it only drank milk. This is supposed to have happen in Gideå.
[The Lot Snake is called “Tomtorm” in Swedish. The word
tomt, that means lot, it is also the origin of the word tomte.-Mr. Bjerstedt]
Title: The Lot Snake
Notetaker: Levi
Johansson
Messenger: Isak
Pettersson
Year: 1915
Parish/Town: Stigsjö
The elders have under no circumstance allow a snake that has
been found on the farm be killed. It could have been The Lot Snake. They
believed, that every farm should have one, and that it's a “joy to the farm”, a
lucky animal. The true Lot Snake is likely blue in colour.
Title: Lot Frogs
Notetaker: Levi
Johansson
Messenger: Anders
Arnström
Year: 1917
Parish/Town: Arnäs
Lot Frogs are very big frogs, that dwells in proximity to
farms and they are auspicious and therefore they ought to not be killed.
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