Ever wonder where the legend of the Jackalope came from?
Or why kids say 'rabbit rabbit rabbit' on the first of the month?
Myths and folklore about rabbits and hares are everywhere and multiply like bunnies -- They became inspiration for an ongoing enamel pin project!
Read on to learn their stories!
Skvader
The Skvader is a mythical creature from Scandinavia, specifically associated with Swedish folklore. It's described as a hybrid creature, combining various features of a hare and a bird, typically a grouse or capercaillie. I originally ran across the Skvader at the end of 2022 when I was thinking about doing a Year of the Rabbit design for 2023 and instantly became a fan. Who wouldn’t be enchanted by the idea of winged rabbits?
The Skvader is most commonly said to have the body of a hare, combined with the wings and sometimes even the head or tail of a bird. The creature's appearance can vary depending on the specific legend or depiction, but it's generally portrayed as a whimsical concoction of fur and feathers.
The origins of the Skvader legend can be traced back to the early 20th century, specifically to a taxidermy prank created by Swedish hunter and taxidermist Rudolf Granberg in 1918. Granberg crafted a stuffed specimen that purported to be a Skvader, which he displayed in his taxidermy shop in Sundsvall, Sweden. The creature gained widespread attention and became a popular topic of discussion, eventually entering into Swedish folklore as a beloved mythical creature, much like North America’s treasured cryptid, the Jackalope.
the wolpertinger
The Wolpertinger is a mythical creature from Bavarian folklore, particularly prevalent in the Alpine regions of Germany and Austria. It's often described as a fantastical hybrid creature, resembling a rabbit or hare with antlers, wings, and other assorted features from different animals.
The appearance of this critter can vary widely depending on the specific legend or depiction, but the most common elements include the body of a rabbit or hare, antlers similar to those of a deer or stag and wings like those of a bird or bat. But many descriptions also include fangs and even duck feet or raptor talons! When visiting hunting lodges or drinking establishments in its home range, you may even be lucky enough to spot a rare Wolpertinger mount on display. (If you do, please let me know about the fangs, okay?)
Legends surrounding the Wolpertinger often portray it as a mischievous and elusive creature, living in dense forests or remote mountainous areas. It's said to be shy and rarely seen by humans, preferring to remain hidden away from prying eyes, which makes it an excellent choice for quarry when planning your next snipe hunt!
The DreiHasenfenster or ‘Window of Three Hares’
The DreiHasenfenster or ‘Window of Three Hares’
The first time I saw the Hare Window or Hasenfenster three hare motif was in a book of Brian Froud artwork a friend was reading. Being familiar with triskeles and the Isle of Mann's three legs emblem, I chalked it up to being a pagan sun symbol from that region – but that’s not the case!
The design is much older and much more far reaching, and its exact origins and meaning is up for debate. And honestly, not to commit “hey why don’t I Google that for you” but Wikipedia’s intro is so solid I’d feel dumb trying to rewrite it, so here:
“The three hares (or three rabbits) is a circular motif appearing in sacred sites from East Asia, the Middle East and the churches of Devon, England (as the "Tinners' Rabbits"),[1] and historical synagogues in Europe.[2][better source needed] It is used as an architectural ornament, a religious symbol, and in other modern works of art[3][4] or a logo for adornment (including tattoos),[5] jewelry, and a coat of arms on an escutcheon.[6][7] It is viewed as a puzzle, a topology problem or a visual challenge, and has been rendered as sculpture, drawing, and painting.
The symbol features three hares or rabbits chasing each other in a circle. Like the triskelion,[8] the triquetra, and their antecedents (e.g., the triple spiral), the symbol of the three hares has a threefold rotational symmetry. Each of the ears is shared by two hares, so that only three ears are shown. Although its meaning is apparently not explained in contemporary written sources from any of the medieval cultures where it is found, it is thought to have a range of symbolic or mystical associations with fertility and the lunar cycle. When used in Christian churches, it is presumed to be a symbol of the Trinity. Its origins and original significance are uncertain, as are the reasons why it appears in such diverse locations.[1]”
The design I drew the most inspiration and reference from is the Dreihasenfenster or Window of Three Hares in the Paderborn Cathedral in Germany.
However, as a big fan of vinyl records, my design might have also been inspired by another object of antiquity:
Tochtli, the Aztec rabbit -- Mesoamerica's original party animal!
Tochtli, meaning ‘rabbit’, is the day in the Aztec calendar associated with Mayahuel. Mayahuel is the goddess of fertility, the womb and the maguey/agave plant – used to brew pulque (a forerunner to tequila!)
Mayahuel’s fecundity was such that it was said that she had 400 breasts that gave pulque, which she would use to feed the Centzon Totochtin, her 400 divine rabbity children. This gang was known for wild drunken parties, leading to the saying of being ‘drunk as 400 rabbits’. (I like to think of this as the Mesoamerican version of ‘One tequila, Two tequila, Three tequila, Floor.”)
Fun fact: Here in Austin where I live, The Alamo Drafthouse named their tequila themed bar ‘400 Rabbits’ in their honor.
So technically, the rabbits of myth I was wanting to celebrate here was that of the Centzon Totochtin, but man, translating 400 rabbits into a pin? Woof. I decided to focus on one tochtli and let him represent –-but I gave him his very own bottle of agave juice for company!
The fierce Al Mi' Raj
The Al Mi'raj, also spelled as Almiraj or Al-Mi'raj, is a mythical creature from Islamic folklore, particularly prevalent in Arabian and South Asian traditions. It is said to live On Jazīrat al-Tinnīn or “Sea Serpent Island” in the Indian Ocean according to Qazwini's Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing
Written and drawn descriptions of the creature generally describe it as a yellow hare-like animal with a single black horn – but between manuscripts there’s some variety and ambiguity. While it frequently looks like a rabbit or hare with a unicorn horn, some describe him as more long legged like a hound, while another depicts him with two curved black horns more like a ram, or the medieval lepus cornus.
What all accounts of the Al Mi’raj agree on is that he is not to be trifled with – all other animals are said to flee at the sight of him, making some folklorists associate him with another unicorn-like creature from the region, the fierce karkadaan.
He appears most often in manuscripts describing Iskander/Alexander the Great slaying a dragon on its home island. One account even saying one was given to the hero as a thank you gift for the service.
As a big unicorn fan, I’ve enjoyed seeing artist’s renditions of whimsical uni- critters, from uni-bunnies to fabulous one-horned wiener dogs. Learning about the Al Mi’raj, I was delighted to find that uni-buns have a long and venerable history!
Bunny or Duck?
The bunny-duck illusion is a famous ambiguous image that can be interpreted in two different ways, either as a rabbit or as a duck. Much like finding pictures in the clouds, amorphous and vague forms can help reveal our imagination and creativity in interpreting the world around us. I love wearing pieces that are interactive, and like many pin collectors have dealt with single clutch pins that want to spin and turn over... So once I decided on the rabbit theme, the idea for this one immediately leapt to mind!
First introduced by American psychologist Joseph Jastrow in the late 19th century the original ‘Rabbit or Duck’ pen and ink illustration was created as a way to demonstrate the concept of ambiguous figures. Other images like this include the Young VS Old woman illustration and the image using positive and negative space allowing the viewer to see two faces in profile or a vase. Ambiguous figures like these can highlight the role of perception and interpretation in visual processing, as we may see the same image differently based on our cognitive biases, past experiences, and cultural influences – or more simply, just based on the image's orientation to us.
The Rabbit in the Moon, pounding mochi
The motif of the rabbit in the moon pounding mochi (rice cakes) is a well-known and beloved folktale in various East Asian cultures, including Japan, China, and Korea. While there are variations of the story, the central theme remains consistent across different versions.
In Japanese folklore, the story typically goes like this: Long ago, the Heavenly Emperor sent three animals—an old monkey, a wise fox, and a kind rabbit—on a journey to Earth to test the kindness of humans. Along their journey, they encountered a poor old man who was hungry. Each of the animals offered to help the man in their own way. The monkey gathered fruit from the trees, the fox hunted for fish, and the rabbit, unable to find any food, offered itself to the man as a meal. Touched by the rabbit's selflessness, the old man revealed himself as the Heavenly Emperor and spared the rabbit. To honor the rabbit's sacrifice, the Heavenly Emperor placed its image on the moon for all to see.
In Chinese and Korean versions of the folktale, the story shares similarities with the Japanese version, but there are variations in the details and cultural interpretations. While in Japan his image is commonly said to be pounding mochi to make mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival, in China he’s often said to be grinding medicinal herbs in a pestle.
The image of the rabbit in the moon has become a symbol of kindness, sacrifice, and selflessness in East Asian cultures. It is often depicted in traditional art, literature, and cultural celebrations, serving as a reminder of the value of compassion.
Shadow Bunny and the art of Obromanie
As a little kid, I remember being taught a song ‘Little Bunny Foo-foo” that you sang while holding up two fingers to make rabbit ears. This hand shape is probably the first one children use to make shadow animals on the wall.
Shadow plays, using cut out figures and illuminated fabric screens likely originated in Central Asia-China or in India in the 1st millennium BCE. Much later, the art of obramanie or shadowgraphy utilizing hand puppets was made popular by the French entertainer Félicien Trewey in the 19th century.
The Milk Hare AKA the Witch Hare or Troll Hare!
Medieval witches, amirite? They’ve got a lot to do. Gathering herbs, making ointments, spoiling crops, dancing naked with the devil and flying around on twigs at the full moon. It’s a full schedule.
If only they could find some reliable help…
I mean, you don’t want to leave picking up the groceries to just any old minion or familiar, right?
Well, apparently the witches of Sweden at one time had it all figured out. They summoned or made a ‘milk hare’ (also known as a ‘witch hare’ or ‘troll hare’). And by ‘made’ I do mean the ultimate in DIY – those that were made were formed of hair, dirt, bones, blood and spit until the witch had something roughly rabbit shaped that also probably looked like what you might find when you finally clean behind the refrigerator.
And while the milk hare did a lot of normal familiar’s tasks, he had one job that was super specific. Sort of like Medieval Door Dash, this creature would go and fetch the milk. He’d sneak over to the neighbor’s barn, help himself to the teats of the milk cows there, and then once his belly was full to draggin’, he’d head back home and unload – by barfing that milk into a bucket for his mistress.
Depictions of this little cutie come to us from various church murals around Sweden. Here he is in the Ösmo Church in Södermanland:
Adorable! Hey, if you've read this far, and are a myth and folklore junkie, you're going to want to check out that link to the church. At the risk of sounding like Stephon, 'those murals have EVERYTHING. Unicorns. Devils. A pelican feeding its own blood to its young. Angels and phoenixes...'