Owls in Folklore

Owls in Folklore surrounding the follow around the world.
Barn Owl is better recorded than for most other Owls. In English
literature the Barn Owl had a sinister reputation probably because
it was a bird of darkness, and darkness was always associated with
death. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the poets
Robert Blair and William Wordsworth used the Barn Owl as their
favorite "bird of doom." During that same period many people
believed that the screech or call of an Owl flying past the window
of a sick person meant imminent death. The Barn Owl has also been
used to predict the weather by people in England. A screeching Owl
meant cold weather or a storm was coming. If heard during foul
weather a change in the weather was at hand. The Custom of nailing
an Owl to a barn door to ward off evil and lightning persisted into
the 19th century. Another traditional English belief was that if you
walked around an Owl in a tree, it would turn and turn its head to
watch you until it wrung its own neck. Among early English folk
cures, alcoholism was treated with Owl egg. The imbiber was
prescribed raw eggs and a child given this treatment was thought to
gain lifetime protection against drunkenness. Owls' eggs, cooked
until they turned into ashes, were also used as a potion to improve
eyesight. Owl Broth was given to children suffering from Whooping-
cough. Odo of Cheriton, a Kentish preacher the 12th Century has
this explanation of why the Owl is nocturnal: The Owl had stolen the
rose, which was a prize awarded for beauty, and the other birds
punished it by allowing it to come out only at night. In parts of
northern England it is good luck to see an Owl. Owls in American
Indian Culture. Among the different American Indian tribes, there
are many diverse beliefs regarding the Owl. Presented here are some
of those beliefs. To an Apache Indian, dreaming of an Owl signified
approaching death. Cherokee shamans valued Eastern Screech-Owls as
consultants as the owls could bring on sickness as punishment. The
Cree people believed Boreal Owl whistles were summons from the
spirits. If a person answered with a similar whistle and did not
hear a response, then he would soon die. The Dakota Hidatsa Indians
saw the Burrowing Owl as a protective spirit for brave warriors. The
Hopis Indians see the Burrowing Owl as their god of the dead, the
guardian of fires and tender of all underground things, including
seed germination. Their name for the Burrowing Owl is Ko'ko, which
means "Watcher of the dark" They also believed that the Great Horned
Owl helped their Peaches grow. The Inuit believed that the Short-
eared Owl was once a young girl who was magically transformed into
an Owl with a long beak. But the Owl became frightened and flew into
the side of a house, flattening its face and beak. They also named
the Boreal Owl "the blind one", because of its tameness during
daylight. Inuit children make pets of Boreal Owls. Native Northwest
coast Kwagulth people believed that owls represented both a deceased
person and their newly-released soul.The Kwakiutl Indians were
convinced that Owls were the souls of people and should therefore
not be harmed, for when an Owl was killed the person to whom the
soul belonged would also die. The Lenape Indians believed that if
they dreamt of an Owl it would become their guardian. The Menominee
people believed that day and night were created after a talking
contest between a Saw-whet Owl (Totoba) and a rabbit (Wabus). The
rabbit won and selected daylight, but allowed night time as a
benefit to the vanquished Owl. The Montagnais people of Quebec
believed that the Saw- whet Owl was once the largest Owl in the
world and was very proud of its voice. After the Owl attempted to
imitate the roar of a waterfall, the Great Spirit humiliated the Saw-
whet Owl by turning it into a tiny Owl with a song that sounds like
dripping water. To the Mojave Indians of Arizona, one would become
an Owl after death, this being and interim stage before becoming a
water beetle, and ultimately pure air. According to Navajo legend,
the creator, Nayenezgani, told the Owl after creating it "...in days
to come, men will listen to your voice to know what will be their
future" California Newuks believed that after death, the brave and
virtuous became Great Horned Owls. The wicked, however, were doomed
to become Barn Owls. In the Sierras, native peoples believed the
Great Horned Owl captured the souls of the dead and carried them to
the underworld. The Tlingit Indian warriors had great faith in the
Owl; they would rush into battle hooting like Owls to give
themselves confidence, and to strike fear into their enemies. A Zuni
legend tells of how the Burrowing Owl got its speckled plumage: the
Owls spilled white foam on themselves during a ceremonial dance
because they were laughing at a coyote that was trying to join the
dance. Zuni mothers place an Owl feather next to a baby to help it
sleep. Owls in Roman MythologyIn early Rome a dead Owl nailed to the
door of a house averted all evil that it supposedly had earlier
caused. To hear the hoot of an Owl presaged imminent death. The
deaths of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Commodus Aurelius, and Agrippa
were apparently all predicted by an Owl."...yesterday, the bird of
night did sit Even at noonday, upon the market place, Hooting and
shrieking" (from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar")The Roman Army was
warned of impending disaster by an Owl before its defeat at
Charrhea, on the plains between the Euphrates and Tigris
rivers.According to Artemidorus, a second Century soothsayer, to
dream of an Owl meant that a traveller would be shipwrecked or
robbed. Another Roman superstition was that witches transformed into
Owls, and sucked the blood of babies. In Roman Mythology, Proserpine
(Persephone) was transported to the underworld against her will by
Pluto (Hades), god of the underworld, and was to be allowed to
return to her mother Ceres (Demeter), goddess of agriculture,
providing she ate nothing while in the underworld. Ascalpus,
however, saw her picking a pomegranate, and told what he had seen.
He was turned into an Owl for his trouble - "a sluggish Screech Owl,
a loathsome bird." (Names in brackets indicate the Greek names for
the same Gods)Owls in Greek MythologyIn the mythology of ancient
Greece, Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom, was so impressed by the great
eyes and solemn appearance of the Owl that, having banished the
mischievous crow, she honored the night bird by making him her
favorite among feathered creatures. Athene's bird was a Little Owl,
(Athene noctua). This Owl was protected and inhabited the Acropolis
in great numbers. It was believed that a magical "inner light" gave
Owls night vision. As the symbol of Athene, the Owl was a protector,
accompanying Greek armies to war, and providing ornamental
inspiration for their daily lives. If an Owl flew over Greek
Soldiers before a battle, they took it as a sign of victory. The
Little Owl also kept a watchful eye on Athenian trade and commerce
from the reverse side of their coins. Athenian silver
tetradrachmClassical style, 5th century BC. Athenian silver
tetradrachm Hellenistic style, 2nd century BC. Owls in Myth &
Culture Abyssinia: the Hamites held the Owl to be sacred.
Afghanistan: the Owl gave Man flint and iron to make fire - in
exchange, Man gave the Owl his feathers. Africa, Central: the Owl is
the familiar of wizards to the Bantu. Africa, East: the Swahili
believe the Owl brings illness to children. Africa, Southern: Zulus
know the Owl as the sorcerers' bird. Africa, West: the messenger of
wizards and witches, the Owl's cry presages evil. Algeria: place the
right eye of an Eagle Owl in the hand of a sleeping woman and she
will tell all. Arabia: the Owl is a bird of ill omen, the embodiment
of evil spirits that carries off children at night. According to an
ancient Arabic treatise, from each female Owl supposedly came two
eggs, one held the power to cause hair fall out and one held the
power to restore it. Arctic Circle: a little girl was turned into a
bird with a long beak by magic, but was so frightened she flapped
about madly and flew into a wall, flattening her face and beak. So
the Owl was created. Australia: Aborigines believe bats represent
the souls of men and Owls the souls of women. Owls are therefore
sacred, because your sister is an Owl - and the Owl is your sister.
Aztecs: one of their evil gods wore a Screech Owl on his head.
Babylon: Owl amulets protected women during childbirth. Belgium:
legend has it that a priest offered the Owl his church tower to live
in if the bird would get rid of the rats and mice that plagued his
church. Bordeaux: throw salt in the fire to avoid the Owl's curse
Borneo: the Supreme Being turned his wife into an Owl after she told
secrets to mortals. Brittany: an Owl seen on the way to the harvest
is the sign of a good yield. Burma: during a quarrel among the
birds, the Owl was jumped upon and so his face was flattened.
Cameroom: too evil to name, the Owl is known only as "the bird that
makes you afraid". Carthage: the city was captured by Agathocles of
Syracuse (Southern Italy) in 310 BC. Afterward, he released Owls
over his troops and they settled on their shields and helmets,
signifying victory in battle. Celtic: the Owl was a sign of the
underworld. China: the Owl is associated with lightning (because it
brightens the night) and with the drum (because it breaks the
silence). Placing Owl effigies in each corner of the home protect it
against lightning. The Owl is a symbol of Too much Yang (positive,
masculine, bright, active energy). Ethiopia: a man condemned to
death was taken to a table on which an Owl was painted, and then
expected to take his own life. Etruria: to the Etruscans of Ancient
Italy the Owl was an attribute of the god of darkness. France: when
a pregnant woman hears an Owl it is an omen that her child will be a
girl. Germany: if an Owl hoots as a child is born, the infant will
have an unhappy life. "A charm against the terrible consequences of
being bitten by a mad dog was to carry the heart and right foot of
an Owl under the left armpit." (Encyclopedia of Superstitions)
Greenland: the Inuit see the Owl as a source of guidance and help.
Hawaii: Owls feature in old war chants. Incas: venerated the Owl for
its beautiful eyes and head. India: Seizures in children could be
treated with a broth made from Owl eyes. Rheumatism pain was treated
with a gel made from Owl meat. Owl meat could also be eaten as a
natural aphrodisiac. In northern India, if one ate the eyes of an
Owl, they would be able to see in the dark. In southern India, the
cries of an Owl were interpreted by number: One hoot was an omen of
impending death; two meant success in anything that would be started
soon after; three represented a woman being married into the family;
four indicated a disturbance; five denoted coming travel; six meant
guests were on the way; seven was a sign of mental distress; eight
foretold sudden death; and nine symbolized good fortune. In parts of
the Indian sub-continent people believed that the Owl was married to
the bat. Indonesia: Around Manado, on the isle of Sulawesi, People
consider Owls very wise. They call them Burung Manguni. Every time
someone wants to travel, they listen to the owls. The owls make two
different sounds; the first means it is safe to go, and the second
means it's better to stay at home. The Minahasa, people around
Manado, take those warnings very seriously. They stay at home when
Manguni says so. Information thanks to Alex van Poppel Iran: In
Farsi the Little Owl (Athene Noctua) is called "Joghde- kochek". It
is said that this bird brings bad luck. In Islam, it's forbidden
(Haram) to eat. Ireland: An Owl that enters the house must be killed
at once, for if it flies away it will take the luck of the house
with it. Israel: in Hebrew lore the Owl represents blindness and
desolation and is unclean. Jamaica: to ward off the Owl's bad luck,
cry "Salt and pepper for your mammy". Japan: among the Ainu people
the Eagle Owl is revered as a messenger of the gods or a divine
ancestor. They would drink a toast to the Eagle Owl before a hunting
expedition. The Screech Owl warns against danger. Though they think
the Barn Owl and Horned Owl are demonic. They would nail wooden
images of owls to their houses in times of famine or pestilence.
Latvia: when Christian soldiers entered his temple, the local pagan
god flew away as an Owl. Lorraine: spinsters go to the woods and
call to the Owl to help them find a husband. Luxembourg: Owls spy
treasures, steal them and hoard them. Madagascar: Owls join witches
to dance on the graves of the dead. Malawi: the Owl carries messages
for witches. Malaya: Owls eat new-born babies. Mayarts: Owls were
the messengers of the rulers of Xibalba, the Place of Phantoms.
Mexico: the Owl makes the cold North wind (the gentle South wind is
made by the butterfly). The Little Owl was called "messenger of the
lord of the land of the dead", and flew between the land of the
living and the dead. Middle East: the Owl represents the souls of
people who have died un- avenged. Mongolia: the Burial people hang
up Owl skins to ward off evil. Mongolia, Inner: Owls enter the house
by night to gather human fingernails. Morocco: the cry of Owls can
kill infants. According to Moroccan custom, an Owl's eye worn on a
string around the neck was an effective talisman to avert the "evil
eye." New Mexico: the hooting of Owls warns of the coming of
witches. New Zealand: to the Maoris it is an unlucky bird.
Newfoundland: the hoot of the Horned Owl signals the approach of bad
weather. Nigeria: in legend, Elullo, a witch and a chief of the
Okuni tribe, could become an Owl. In certain parts of Nigeria,
natives avoid naming the Owl, referring to it at "the bird that
makes your afraid". Persia: wizards use arrows tipped with a
bewitched man's fingernails to kill Owls. Peru: boiled Owl is said
to be a strong medicine. Poland: Polish folklore links Owls with
death. Girls who die unmarried turn into doves; girls who are
married when they die turn into Owls. An owl cry heard in or near a
home usually meant impending death, sickness, or other misfortune.
An old story tells how the Owl does not come out at during the day
because it is too beautiful, and would be mobbed by other, jealous
birds. Puerto Rico: The Owl is called "Mucaro". Back in the 1800s,
the people from the mountain coffee plantations used to blame the
little mucaro for the loss of coffee grains. The belief was that the
coffee was part of the owls' diet, and many owls were killed. There
are old folklore songs on the subject, one goes like this: "Poor
Mucaro you're a gentleman you just want to eat a rat, then the rat
set up a trap, he eats the coffee grains and people blame you."
Romania: the souls of repentant sinners flew to heaven in the guise
of a Snowy Owl. Russia: hunters carry Owl claws so that, if they are
killed, their souls can use them to climb up to Heaven. Tartar
shamen of Central Russia could assume Owl shapes. Kalmucks hold the
Owl to be sacred because one once saved the life of Genghis Khan.
Samoa: the people are descended from an Owl. Saxony: the Wend people
say that the sight of an Owl makes child- birth easier. Scotland:
it's bad luck to see an Owl in daylight. Shetland Isles: a cow will
give bloody milk if scared by an Owl. Siberia: the Owl is a helpful
spirit. Spain: legend has it that the Owl was once the sweetest of
singers, until it saw Jesus crucified. Ever since it has shunned
daylight and only repeats the words 'cruz, cruz' ('cross, cross').
Sri Lanka: the Owl is married to the bat. Sumeria:The goddess of
death, Lilith, was attended by Owls. Sweden: the Owl is associated
with witch's. Tangiers: Barn Owls are the clairvoyants of the Devil.
Transylvania: farmers used to scare away Owls by walking round their
fields naked. Ural Mountains: Snowy Owls were made to stay behind
while other birds migrate as a punishment for deception. U.S.A: if
you hear an Owl-cry you must return the call, or else take off an
item of clothing and put it on again inside-out. Louisiana: Owls are
old people and should be respected. Louisiana Cajuns (individuals
who share the French-based culture originally brought to Louisiana
by exiles from the French colony of Acadia in the 18th century)
thought you should get up from bed and turn your left shoe upside
down to avert disaster, if you hear an Owl calling late at night.
Illinois: kill an Owl and revenge will be visited upon your family.
Wales: an Owl heard among houses means an unmarried girl has lost
her virginity. If a woman is pregnant and she alone hears an owl
hoot outside her house at night then her child will be blessed.