Читать книгу The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic - John Matthews - Страница 195

The Barnacle goose that migrates from the Arctic down into southern regions of Europe was a great mystery to medieval people. Throughout Europe, there arose many stories and explanations of where it could have come from when the colder weather brought it south. The most common legend relates that the bird was hatched from pieces of driftwood on which barnacles clustered. These barnacles were believed to be eggs from which they hatched. Another story says that they should really be called Tree Geese, because they hatch from trees that grow near the sea. As the fruit-like growths hang heavily, so the goose swims away into the sea. If they fall upon land, then they die. The Barnacle goose was the subject of many theological debates when it came to deciding whether it was fit to eat during Lent – the period when no meat is eaten. Clerics persuaded themselves that barnacle geese were really shellfish rather than fowl and so allowable fare for the Lenten period. Later, Christians took the Barnacle goose as a symbol of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, since it was born without procreation being involved. The Barnacle goose was also called Ephemerus.