Y is the third and final letter that has been excluded from the Motif Index. Once more, I searched for words that start with Y, and someone on Twitter suggested Yellow. I was not disappointed.
A2391.1
Why canary's eggs are yellow
First off: This is another one of Thompson's misnomers. The story actually explains why canary's feathers are yellow. It is a Flemish legend.
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| This one looks a little hung over |
According to the story, canaries used to be white. One day, however, they went out to celebrate on a feast day, and got a little too much to drink. Instead of sitting on their eggs, they were out late into the night. When they returned home, the male canary fell into the nest and broke the eggs; his feathers were stained golden yellow from them. The female fell in too, but since the male had already soaked up most of the yolk, she did not get the same bright color.
I feel like this story was supposed to teach us something.
(Story in German here.)
Don't go partying too late? ;-)
ReplyDeleteLovely little story :-)
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir
That's cute. Though, from a canary's perspective, pretty horrific as the drunk dad stumbles home, kills the babies, and stains his body with their remains. ;)
ReplyDeleteA to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs
the moral - don't get drunk and stay out all night because you'll break eggs and turn yellow? not sure I would believe such a tale but anything's possible.
ReplyDeletehave a lovely day.
~ my Y post - yada yada~
The early bird gets home in time to see where he's stepping as well as gets the worm?
ReplyDeleteY is for the Yellowstone Conspiracy
I'm always fascinated by creation tales, and yolk-stained feathers is a great one. I'm not sure what the moral is - perhaps, don't leave your assets unattended.
ReplyDeleteWell this is a nice one. So are you saying the male can't handle his liquor and now he's marked forever? One bird ruins it for everyone. :D
ReplyDeleteDiscarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction
Indulgence can be not so good in the end. Better set limits and don't take the duties and responsibilities casually... is this what the canary tale trying to teach?
ReplyDeleteOn the lighter side, for a few drinks more, I don't mind getting dyed with pretty colours!!!
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Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
Collage Of Life
That is a strange tale. Morals: Don't drink and fly? Did the mother bird divorce the father bird after the incident? (My first pet bird, by the way, was a canary.) Visiting from A to Z - Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteDon't come home drunk and crush your children?But if you do, you'll be even more beautiful than you were before?
ReplyDeleteFinding Eliza
That story is kind of macabre. I wonder how they explain other canary colors, like green and cinnamon.
ReplyDeleteI think the moral of the story is don't get so drunk that you squash your children? heh I don't know. Interesting tale!
ReplyDeleteHere's my "Y" post :) http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/yearning-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer
Very informative!
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Eva - Mail Adventures