The Humble Hedgehog is one of our favourite wild animals today, and it plays an important role in our folklore and culture.
From video games such as Sega’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog,’ to characters in Disney/Pixar’s ‘Toy Story 3’ and Sesame Street, hedgehogs have a definite place in popular culture, including appearances in such literary classics as Beatrix Potter’s ‘The Tale of Mrs Tiggywinkle” and Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland’ the humble hog has even appeared in a few of Shakespeare’s plays.
Historically, hedgehogs have been the source of some weird and wonderful folklore and are often depicted as industrious, no-nonsense animals. Some of our favourite stories are included below.
A collection of some of our favourite pieces of hedgehog folklore
According to a Bulgarian legend, the Sun decided to marry the Moon and all of the animals were invited to the wedding. Everyone was in attendance except for the hedgehog. When the Sun went to look for him, he found him gnawing on a rock. When the Sun asked what he was doing, the hedgehog explained, “I am learning to eat rocks. Once you are married, you’ll have many Sun children, and with so many Suns shining in the sky, everything will burn, and there will be nothing to eat.” The Sun then decided to call off the wedding, saving the world’s inhabitants from starvation
Heaven and Earth
Myths in Lithuania, Latvia, and Romania claim that God originally mistakenly made Earth larger than the heavens. Following a hedgehog’s suggestion, God squeezed Earth, creating mountain ranges until it was small enough to fit within the sky. As a reward for its wisdom and cleverness, God gave the hedgehog a suit of needles.
From ‘Naturalis Historia’ to 13th-century manuscripts, hedgehogs are described as using their spines to impale fruits and then carrying them back to their lairs. In reality, hedgehogs do not gather and store food for future consumption; instead, they rely on built-up fat reserves to survive hibernation. Rather than carrying apples as a method of food storage, hedgehogs may use the juices of wild apples to defend against parasites, similar to ‘anting’ behaviour in birds.
In European lore, hedgehogs were heralded for their alleged dominance against snakes. In ancient Egypt, hedgehog imagery supposedly protected against snakebites, and in more modern legends, they have been rumoured to be immune to snake venom.
This has some truth to it. If threatened by a snake, a hedgehog will curl up, erecting its spines. Snake fangs are shorter than the spines, so the snake can do no harm to the hedgehog and may even wound itself in the process.
The hedgehog will then attack the fatigued or wounded snake by biting along its spine until it dies. If a venomous snake bites a hedgehog, however, it is not immune, and such a bite can prove fatal, although they show heightened resistance to low venom doses compared to other animals.
In folklore, hedgehogs are often associated with good luck, wisdom, and magic. In many cultures, hedgehogs are believed to see into the future, so they are often consulted for advice. In Europe, hedgehogs are often seen as benevolent creatures that can help needy humans.
In Asia, hedgehogs are often considered wise animals that can offer advice and guidance. In Africa, hedgehogs are sometimes seen as magical creatures who can grant wishes.
Throughout history, hedgehogs have been the source of some weird and wonderful folklore and are often depicted as industrious, no-nonsense animals. Some of our favourite stories are included below.
In Balkan Slavic and Belarusian folklore, the wise hedgehog and the tortoise sometimes appear as the animals capable of finding the raskovnik. This magic plant could be used to open locks and find hidden treasures.
The Greeks and Romans watched Hedgehog knock grapes from the vine and pick them up on their quills, toothpick style. They made Hedgehogs a symbol of intelligence, ingenuity, and cleverness.
The British love their hedgehogs, being voted their most loved mammal in a BBC Poll. Regional stories are few, but some depict a Hedgehog displayed against an autumn-themed backdrop as a nod to the Hedgehog’s habit of hibernating in fallen leaf piles.
Throughout Britain, people routinely check for Hedgehog homes before lighting bonfires to protect them. This modern-day affection for our spiky friends contrasts dramatically with our earlier history, where our ancestors referred to hedgehogs as “ugly little things.” Some people even believed Hedgehogs were malicious Medicine People in disguise. If the Hedgehog emerged in February and they saw its shadow, there would be six more weeks of winter.
The Romans trusted the Hedgehog as a harbinger of spring, much like people see the Groundhog in the United States, where the settlers looked for an alternative since there were no Hedgehogs in the New World;
Aristotle seemed to agree with the perceived predictive nature of Hedgehogs, saying they could foretell the changing winds.
Pliny conjectured the creature had two entries to its lair, in the south and north, blocking the one where the winds come in the heaviest. So, as a Spirit Guide, Hedgehog corresponds with the North and South Cardinal Directions, the Earth and Fire Elements, power, stability, will, and vigour.
Some felt the Earth Mother could be a Hedgehog, particularly in Babylon. Here, Ishtar, the Goddess of Love, had a Hedgehog as a Sacred Animal. Similarly, in Slavic fairy tales, Hedgehogs often appear as wise and gentle guides with ancient knowledge and magical power.
Finnish stories say the Hedgehog brought soil and sand to the region by using its needles to create dry land.
The Brothers Grimm have a story about the Hare and the Hedgehog. However, the tortoise appears in place of the Hedgehog in many local versions; the creatures participate in a race and -Spoiler alert – The Hedgehog wins!
The Egyptians strongly allied with the Hedgehog, specifically, the long-eared Hedgehog native to the region. Their spines were worn as amulets for protection, and Egyptian sailing ships, pictured on the walls of tombs, had Hedgehog faces as the figurehead on their hulls, believed to ensure the safe sailing of the soul to its designation.
In central Asia, hedgehogs are associated with the harvest and fertility of farmlands; this may have been because some fables claim hedgehogs provide humankind with the element of fire.
Hedgehogs in Dreams
If a Hedgehog appears in your dreams, it’s said to mean you are feeling exposed and misunderstood. If the Hedgehog curls up, you have already moved into a position of protection, but perhaps it’s unnecessary. It’s advised you check to see if you are overreacting.
If you meet a Hedgehog in your dream, you will soon encounter a new acquaintance who will prove honest and loyal. The colour of the hedgehog can also change the meaning of your dream. For example, a White Hedgehog means you must come to peace with yourself for something in your past. It’s time to start fresh.
Hedgehogs are extremely popular in the UK but are in severe decline, particularly in the countryside, where modern farming practices and pesticide use have devastatingly impacted hedgehog numbers.
Hedgehogs are fairing slightly better in urban areas, where many people ensure hedgehogs can access their gardens, and they put food and water out for them. Vehicles are the biggest killers, taking an estimated 200,000 hedgehogs every year. Some villages and towns now display ‘slow down for hedgehogs’ road signs to help reduce fatalities.
In May each year, the UK has National Hedgehog Week. It is a time to celebrate these native animals that have been on this planet for around 250,000 years, far longer than humans!
Further Reading
Nature StoryTeller More stories from the author
Wild of the Words Pridie Tiernan
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