Author: Torben Mogensen (---.diku.dk)
Date: 11-26-2003 01:10
In Denmark, a lady beetle is called "mariehøne", meaning "Mary hen", probably referring to Our Lady Mary (same as lady beetle, I suppose).
I have no guess as to the "hen" connection.
Anyway, a Danish verse goes:
Marie, Marie, Marolle
Flyv op til vor Herre
Og bed om godt vejr i morgen
meaning
Mary, Mary, <nonsense word>
Fly up to Our Lord
And ask for good weather tomorrow
The tradition is that you would pick up a lady beetle and fling it into the air while saying this verse, as a prayer for nice weather.
I suppose you could use this superstition in role playing by requiring a lady beetle as a component for a good weather spell. :-)
|
|
