Kaķupīte Folk Tales
Latvian Folk Tales about animals
The Hedgehog and the Hare
A hedgehog was talking with his brother, another hedgehog, about playing a trick on a hare.
At the edge of the forest there was a deep ditch. The two hedgehogs stood at opposite ends of it, and the one at one end called to the hare:
“Now listen, Hare. You boast that you’re such a fast runner — but I think I could almost outrun you.”
“Ha! If you beat me, you can pull out my whiskers — I don’t believe it!”
“What’s there to believe or not believe? Let’s make a wager: if you outrun me, you may pull ten spines from my coat; but if I outrun you, I’ll pull ten whiskers from your muzzle. Agreed?”
“Agreed — though I’ll feel sorry for your coat.”
“And I’ll feel sorry for your whiskers! So then, Hare, you’ll run along the edge of the ditch, and I’ll run along the bottom.”
Fine. The hare dashed off like the wind, not even glancing back to see if the hedgehog was running. When he reached the other end — surprise! — the hedgehog was already there:
“Where have you been so long? I almost froze waiting for you!”
“No, no, Hedgehog, I slipped up this time — let’s run back!”
“Alright, let’s run!”
The hare dashed off again like the wind. But at the far end — once more, the hedgehog was there first:
“Hey! Stop keeping me waiting — hand over those whiskers!”
“No, no, Hedgehog, just one more run — whatever happens, happens!”
The hare dashed off yet again. But at the other end — the hedgehog was already there:
“Now give me those whiskers — I won’t tease you anymore.”
The hare had no choice. The hedgehog plucked ten whiskers, stuck five onto his brother’s lips and five onto his own. From that day on, all hedgehogs have little hare-like whiskers on their lips.
Why the Hare Has Long Ears
Once upon a time, a hare became friends with a ram, and they decided to live together. One day the ram said to the hare: “Let’s build ourselves a house.” “Let’s do it!” replied the hare.
The next day they went into the forest to find logs. Coming to a big tree, the ram said, “I’ll knock this tree down!”
“You won’t!” replied the hare.
“I will! Just watch!” boasted the ram. He took a good run-up, rammed the tree with his horns — and down it crashed! The hare thought, “Ah, so that’s how you fell trees! I can do that too!”
They came to another tree, and the hare said, “I’ll knock this one down!” “You won’t,” said the ram.
“I will! Just watch!” The hare took a good run-up and rammed the tree with his head. But the tree didn’t budge — and the poor hare’s head got stuck down between his shoulders. Seeing his friend in trouble, the ram said, “Stand still! I’ll pull your head out by your ears!”
The ram grabbed the hare by the ears and pulled and pulled. The hare cried out, “Enough!” But the ram just kept pulling. He did get the hare’s head free — but he also stretched out his ears. From that day on, hares have long ears.
The Freedom Pass
Long ago, when both dog and cat had freedom passes, they were allowed to stay at home without working. But this happy life didn’t last long, because neither of them knew how to keep their pass safe.
The cat kept his pass up in the attic behind a rafter, and the dog kept his in his kennel under the floorboards. But rats discovered the cat’s pass and chewed it up.
The next year, when they had to show their freedom passes in order to remain at home, the dog produced his, but the cat couldn’t find his anywhere. So the mistress sent the cat to herd the cows, while the dog stayed comfortably at home. The cat grew jealous and looked for a way to get even. Summer was tolerable, but autumn came with rain nearly every day — a miserable time to be outdoors. Then the cat had a clever idea.
One evening, while the dog was eating supper, the cat sneaked into the kennel, took the dog’s pass and hid it under his own pillow. The next year, when the passes had to be shown again, the cat produced one — but the dog searched in vain.
The following year, the cat also managed to lose the dog’s pass. From then on, both had to work: the dog had to herd cattle, and the cat had to hunt mice. And ever since that time, dogs have hated cats.
The Bear Saves the Hunter
While walking in the forest, a hunter noticed an old tree stump with a beaten track leading to it — a sign that some animal lived there. The bark of the stump was scratched where the animal had climbed.
Curious, the hunter climbed to the top of the tall stump — and accidentally fell into a hollow inside. There was a den at the bottom. He couldn’t climb out and resigned himself to his fate.
Toward evening he heard an animal climbing the stump. Reaching the top, it turned around and lowered itself backwards into the hole — a bear.
The hunter thought, “This is the end anyway — I’ll be crushed to death.” So, with nothing to lose, he grabbed the bear by the tail. Terrified, as if struck by lightning, the bear shot up out of the hole, jumped to the ground and bolted into the forest — dragging the hunter out after him! The hunter went home overjoyed to be alive.
The Owl
Once an owl flew into the rafters of a house and attacked the hens. Later the mistress counted the hens — one was missing. She asked, “Where’s the hen?” (Latvian: Kur vista?)
Hearing this, the owl began to mock her, and even today people say the owl calls out: “Where’s the hen? Where’s the hen?” (Latvian: Ku-ū vist, ku-ū vist!)
The Eagle-Owl
The eagle-owl complained to God that he could not learn to sing. God sent him to learn from people. The eagle-owl flew off and met a poor man on the road, groaning in misery. And that is how the eagle-owl learned his mournful cry.
