Rabbit associations

[Rockprincess]

Does anyone know of legends/divinities/traditions associated with rabbits? I"m looking for a nice name for my new bunny.

[MoonDragn]

There is an old chinese legend about a rabbit on the moon :

http://www.moonfestival.org/overview.htm

http://www.visitsingapore.com/maf/legend.html

and heres one of various myths about rabbits

http://www.beal-net.com/laluna/hare.html

[Darakash]

hmm, well there are a few cultures that saw the goddess of the moon holding a bunny....maybe something lunar? Like Luna?
DK

[MoonDragn]

Heres some more rabbit legends :

http://www.witchvox.com/wren/w_editorials/rabbit_inthemoon.html

[Rockprincess]

Thank you for those links, I will look at them at lunch.

I should have mentioned, the bunny is a boy, and he is harlequin coloured, meaning orange and black stripes. Any other suggestions?

[MoonDragn]

I remember my brother had one and we called her bonnie bunny.

The one in chinese culture was named Jade Rabbit, or Yui-Tu. However the name is also used to describe a phase of the moon. He symbolized immortality and longetivity.

[Amethyst Rose]

Hmm.... the only rabbit association I can think of is the goddes Eostre. There's a story, I read that says that the goddess Eostre, to amuse some children changed a bird into a rabbit. The bird was very sad at not being able to fly anymore, so the goddess changed the rabbit back into a bird, on the condition that once a year, it becomes a rabbit. And that's why rabbits hop (they're trying to fly), and why the easter bunny lays eggs. :) :lol:
However, it's just a cute story for kids, I think...because research suggests that there was no goddess Eostre.

[luna rising]

Sorry - but you just reminded me of a book that I absolutely LOVED when I was a kid - "Bunnicula!"

[Amethyst Rose]

Oh! Then there's also the Velvetine Rabbit.....but I don't think he had a name, did he?

[Rockprincess]

I don't think the Velveteen rabbit did have a name, actually! Neither did the boy, come to think of it.

[Rockprincess]

I'm beginning to soften towards Hugh or Huw:

Huw — (HYOO) Welsh version of Hugh, from Old German hugi "intelligence, spirit". Hew, Hewe, Hu.

Any suggestions other than Hefner as a second name?

[Rockprincess]

I have come up with something I'm very happy with!
Huw Caradoc

Huw — (HYOO) Welsh version of Hugh, from Old German hugi "intelligence, spirit". Hew, Hewe, Hu

Caradoc — "beloved"

So his name means beloved spirit :)

He'll probably get called Huey or Hu-bu or Bu.