The Postcard for the Weekend theme this week is “Anything you wish”. And once again, a couple of cards happened to drop in during the week that fit the theme perfectly…
Of course you might argue that anything would fit the theme Anything. But having taken a look below, I think you will have to agree that it hardly gets more “Anything” than this!
From Taiwan (arrived 25 January 2017)
The artist is a popular Taiwanese illustrator, Jimmy Liao.
No explanation of the image is given – so I don’t know the creature’s name, or if it belongs in a special a story. Two days later, however, I got a clue from a different source: Obviously it must be a Taiwanese cousin of the Bavarian Wolpertinger…
From Germany (arrived 27 January 2017)
Wolpertinger: A very shy creature from the alpine forests of Bavaria, which can only be found (if you’re lucky) at night, in favourable weather and moonlight. Take care – it may bite!
Gefangen und gezähmt im südöstlichen Heimatland am 29. Februar des Jahres. Diese Tiere sind äusserst scheu und bei günstiger Witterung und Mondschein nur Nachts anzutriffen. Vorsicht – können bissig sein!
Do I hear anyone saying “Bah! Humbug!”, and claiming that such creatures do not exist??
Actually the Wolpertinger has a cousin in Sweden as well. Ours hasn’t got the horns, but it does have the wings... It’s called a Skvader, and although it may be rare, there is a famous stuffed specimen on display at a museum in Sundsvall. I’ve seen it myself. There is proof in my old photo album from 1968…
20 comments:
hummmm very interesting.. and very different to.. actually I like them and they are pretty cool post cards.
These are grand mythological creatures! I doubt the Skvader, I believe the stuffed specimen may be man made! Nevertheless, they are FUN. I see the Wolpertinger is even carrying a walking stick! Perhaps it is hard for him to get around with the weight of his horns and wings. He does look very well fed, wonder exactly what or who he eats? Ours here are Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and the Jackalope. Pus several other minor characters!
Sounds like it might be related to the American Jackalope.
Ginny and Janet - I had never heard of the Jackalope before either, until yesterday when I did my research for this post. Wiki informs med that the jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit (a kind of hare) with antelope horns. So it does indeed seem like this creature is quite wide-spread over the world! (Make me wonder where it started...)
Ginny, the Skvader I can't doubt, having seen it with my own eyes! Lol, of course you're right. I'm just getting curious now, both about where these legends originate from, and which crazy taxidermist was the first to try to "prove" it...
Reading a bit more about it, it seems that there are European images of a horned rabbit dating back to around 1500. The Swedish Skvader in the museum was made in 1918.
Monica, no two Wolpertingers look the same, but yours really is a prime example :-)
And of course they DO exist. I've seen one a few weeks ago, when O.K. and I were eating at a charming little restaurant in the Black Forest. There on the wall above our table was a Wolpertinger who clearly had at least one squirrel and an owl for ancestors.
Meike, next time you see one, please post a photo! :D
Hi DawnTreader, Pretty fascinating. Takes the theme to a new level! :-) Thanks for sharing!
A very "anything" post! I love it! I've heard of the Jackalope before, but never of the Wolpertinger so I feel that I learned something today!!! Thank you for that!
I've always been fascinated by mythical animals and their origins. It's surprising how many are found in similar form throughout the world.
Postcards can be very educational :)
Me too, John!
You are right: these postcards fit perfectly in Anything!
Wow!! I've never heard of the wolpertinger nor the skvader! Both looks unreal! Thank you Monica for sharing these cards -- I couldn't agree more with you, perfect for the theme indeed!
I love when you can make a connections between cards received from disparate parts of the world!
So do I, Violet :)
Unreal is probably the right word, Maria... :)
I think 'altered' animals always a bit, er, creepy... Nice postcards though. The Taiwanese illustration is my favourite, but good to read about the Wolpertinger, Skvader and Jackalope, as learning about cultures is a nice side effect of postcards, too :-)
I agree about the "er, creepy", Heleen :) Interesting, though!
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