The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FINNISH TALE: THE HARE AND THE FROST

THE FROST SAYS, "WHEN I MAKE IT COLD, YOU WILL FREEZE." THE
HARE SAYS, "I WON'T FREEZE, NO MATTER HOW COLD YOU MAKE IT."
SO THEY GOT INTO COMPETITION. THE FROST MADE IT COLD AND THE
HARE STARTED TO RUN HARD AND RAN BACK AND FORTH FOR SO LONG
TILL HE BEGAN TO FREEZE IN THE HANDS OF THE FROST. HE LAID
HIMSELF ON THE SNOW AND BEGAN TO GET NUMB AND SAID, "OH, HOW
COLD I AM." HIS FEET KICKED IN A STRUGGLE AGAINST DEATH. THE
FROST SAID, "THERE IS NOTHING MORE I HAVE TO DO BECAUSE HE IS
ALREADY DYING." SO THE FROST BECAME SORRY FOR THE HARE AND
SUDDENLY THE RAIN CAME. THE NUMBNESS WENT AWAY. BECAUSE OF
THAT, THE HARE STARTED TO LAUGH SO HARD THAT HIS MOUTH SPLIT.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FINLAND

Date learned: 11-00-1968