Snow White, Rose Red and Beltaine

[Tanya]

Being down under, its time to start putting away from Oester stuff and pulling out Beltaine. As I looked through my shadow book, and pulling out my box of Beltaine stuff and started thinking about the candles and altar clothes..... rose red.. and snow white....
and it got me thinking about the fairy tale of Snow White and Rose Red. Are they connected to Beltaine? May Queens prehaps?

thoughts?

[earthsong]

In the fable, it is at this time that the prince reveals his true self (purification aspect of Beltane), reclaims his treasures (symbolic of lengthening of days, more hours ruled by the sun), and marries.

Sure it's sort of out in left field, but it works for me! :T

[RavenStars]

I'm not sure but should this thread be in Myth and Folklore? They may be a little more focused with this story. Where ever it goes, I'm interested in what people have to say. I'm always looking for another way to approach Beltane!

[Tanya]

Did some research on this today. The folktale is an Aarne- Thompson type 426 "The Two Girls, the Bear, and the Dwarf"

The prince has been turned into a bear. In the version I learned, once when he leaves the girl a bit of hair gets stuck to the edge of the door and where it tears away from his skin they see a glimpse of gold.

In the final scene the bear eats/attacks the unfriendly dwarf and the spell on him is broken.

I've also read that in some traditions a bear was sacrificed at Beltaine. http://guyhoyle.net/risus/WoadWarriors.htm

THe bear seems in some way to be the actualizing force in this story, and I wonder about 'Arthur' and his roll as the Stag King/May King since his name also means Bear"

Further, there are links I've seen that Cernonous is often accompanied by a bear... and I wonder if this isn't one of his 'faces"

could the dwarf that is vanquished then be 'old man winter" ?

[Merrilyn]

Loving this thread! I love that Fairy tale. Will look into it as well.

[WarriorZhanna]

I'm loving this thread too as I love that fairy-tale! And Beltane is my favourite sabbat. <3333

It's interesting you came up with the idea that they might have some connection. Kudos!

[Windsmith]

I've never entirely understood this tale. If killing the dwarf was all the bear had to do to break the spell (and when the moment comes, he seems to have no qualms about doing so), then why didn't he eat the dwarf years ago? What's his impetus for doing it now, rather than long ago (other than that, if he'd done it long ago, we'd have no story)?

[Tanya]

I never thought about that Windsmith. why indeed. And why do the girls have to be nice to the dwarf when he's clearly a total turd?