Published: 2019-12-25

Death harbingers, mourners and the last travelling companions. The behaviours of domestic animals in the face of human death in Polish folk language

Olga Kielak Logo ORCID

Abstract

The subject of the article is a scientific reflection on the behaviours of domestic animals in the face of human death. Using the rich folkloristic and ethnographic material, the author has distinguished three types of roles in which – in folk beliefs – animals are incarnated: (a) death harbingers, (b) mourners, feeling sad and regret after losing a loved one, (c) the last travelling companions. The analysis proved that the roles played by animals in the face of the death of a loved one implement the principle of „solidarity with life” – a key principle of traditional peasant culture, the basis of life and a keystone of existence in the group.

Citation rules

Kielak, O. (2019). Death harbingers, mourners and the last travelling companions. The behaviours of domestic animals in the face of human death in Polish folk language. Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies, (5), 35–45. https://doi.org/10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA.2019.05.04

Cited by / Share

No. 5 (2019)
Published: 2019-12-31


ISSN: 2719-2687
eISSN: 2451-3849
Ikona DOI 10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA

Publisher
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.