Discourteous answer: why cow (horse) is always eating. When God (Peter) wants to use the cow (horse) the excuse is made that she (he) is eating. Curse: "May you always be eating!" (Cf. A2472.1, A2478.)

Motif

Discourteous answer: why cow (horse) is always eating. When God (Peter) wants to use the cow (horse) the excuse is made that she (he) is eating. Curse: "May you always be eating!" (Cf. A2472.1, A2478.)

Mythological motifs. · Animal characteristics. · Various causes of animal characteristics. · Animal characteristics as punishment. · view the constellation · filed as A2231.1.1

Filed across the traditions

Esthonian Aarne FFC XXV 143 No. 32 (horse)
Lithuanian Balys Index No. 3094, Legends Nos. 163–175.
general Dh II 93
general *Fb "hest" IV 211b. – Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 11 No. 59 (horse)
general ibid. 12 No. 62 (cow)

Within the index

Filed under Animal characteristics: punishment for discourteous answer to God (saint). (Cf. A2411.2.6.)

Filed beside it

Discourteous answer: flounder's crooked mouth. When God asks him where he is going, instead of answering he turns to go toward God. His mouth becomes crooked. (Cf. A2341.1.) Discourteous answer: why crab has eyes behind. (Cf. A2332.4.1.) Discourteous answer: tortoise's shell. Zeus celebrates a wedding and invites the animals. Tortoise is late. Why? "I like my house." "May you bear your house always." (Cf. A2312.1.)

Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)

Why cows ruminate. (Cf. A2231.1.1.) Why certain animals are continually eating. (Cf. A2231.1.1.)

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